Clippers vs. Magic Pick
Can the Orlando Magic handle being a home favorite when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Orlando is the slight favorite at home in this game. The Magic are getting odds of -1.5 points against Los Angeles. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 213.5 points. The Clippers have won seven straight meetings with the Magic, but Orlando has covered the spread in the last two. Tonight’s game takes place from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
The Clippers are coming off a 96-91 win over the Raptors at home for their second straight victory. Los Angeles is 10-15 on the year while going just 4-8 on the road. The Clippers have an 11-14 record against the spread, but they have covered in three of their last four games. L.A. is averaging 104.9 points per game while giving up 107.2 per contest on defense. On the road, the Clippers average just 101.6 points per contest. Already without Blake Griffin and Patrick Beverley, the Clippers will be without Danilo Gallinari tonight with a glute injury. Lou Williams is the active leader with 19.6 points per game while DeAndre Jordan is averaging 10.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per game.
Orlando is coming off a 117-110 loss at Atlanta on Monday for its third loss in four games. The Magic are now 11-17 overall while posting a 6-6 record at home. The Magic are 11-16-1 against the spread this season, failing to cover in their last four games. Orlando is scoring 107 points per game this season while giving up 110.8 per contest. Aaron Gordon is questionable for tonight due to a concussion. He averages 18.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Evan Fournier has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He is averaging 18.3 points per contest. Nikola Vucevic is adding 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Injuries have been plaguing both teams this season. However, the Magic’s injuries are to their top two scorers. Los Angeles has been without Griffin lately, but they are also on a nice upswing. The Clippers seem to have a roster more capable of handling the injuries they are dealing with. The public betting siding with the Magic, but I like the Clippers to cover on the road.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS +1.5