Pelicans vs. Magic Pick
Will the New Orleans Pelicans find their way to the .500 mark when they go on the road and face the Orlando Magic tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, New Orleans is favored on the road, as the Pelicans are getting odds of -5.5 points against Orlando. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 219.5 points. Orlando has won five of its last six meetings with New Orleans, going 4-2 against the spread in those six games. Tonight’s game takes place from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
The Pelicans have lost two straight and three of their last four to fall to 15-16 on the season. They have also failed to cover in their last two games and sit at 16-14-1 ATS this season. NO is averaging 110.7 points per game on offense while allowing 111.8 per game defensively. DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 26.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game to lead the Pelicans while Anthony Davis is adding 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest.
Orlando is on a six-game losing streak and the Magic have dropped their last three at home to fall to 11-21 on the season. The Magic are just 1-7 against the spread in their last eight to fall to 12-19-1 ATS on the year. Orlando is averaging 105.7 points per game on offense while allowing 110.3 per game on defense. Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon are both averaging 18.3 points per game this season, but both are doubtful to play tonight due to injury. Nikola Vucevic is the current team leader with 17.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
The Magic are in a funk right now and that’s not surprising given their key injuries. Being without your top two leading scorers is difficult, especially when one would match up with Cousins defensively. The Pelicans have the better talent and should be able to dominate on the glass tonight. The public betting siding with the Pelicans tonight and I agree with them.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS -5.5