Teams looking to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in a while clash on Sunday when the fifth-seeded Orlando Magic battle the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Waiting in the next round for the winner is the top-seeded Boston Celtics. The Magic (47-35), who last reached the second round in 2009-2010, have bowed out in the first round four times since. The Cavaliers (48-34), who reached the NBA Finals before losing to Golden State 4-0 in 2017-2018, lost in the first round in five games to the New York Knicks last season, their first playoff appearance since.
Tipoff from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers are 3-point favorites in the latest Cavaliers vs. Magic odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 195.5. Before making any Magic vs. Cavaliers picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 92-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Magic and just locked in its NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Magic vs. Cavs:
- Magic vs. Cavaliers spread: Cleveland -3
- Magic vs. Cavaliers over/under: 195.5 points
- Magic vs. Cavaliers money line: Orlando +134, Cleveland -159
- ORL: The Magic have covered the spread in 55 of their last 88 games (+18.70 units)
- CLE: The Cavaliers have hit the fourth quarter Under in 48 of their last 79 games (+15.85 units)
- Magic vs. Cavaliers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Shooting guard Donovan Mitchell was on fire in Game 6, connecting on 61% of his shots in a 50-point performance. He is just the second Cavalier to reach 50 points in a playoff game, joining LeBron James, who had 51 on May 31, 2018. Mitchell set franchise playoff records with 22 made field goals and points in a half (31). Mitchell, who began his career in Utah, had reached 50 or more points twice before in the postseason and for the fourth time overall, including the regular season.
Power forward Evan Mobley has scored in double figures in five of the six games in the series. In the 104-103 Game 5 win, he registered a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. He also had a double-double in the 97-83 Game 1 win, scoring 16 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds. During the postseason, he is averaging 12.3 points, eight rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 1.8 assists and one steal in 32.7 minutes. See which team to pick here.
Why the Magic can cover
Power forward Paolo Banchero has been red hot in the series, scoring 20 or more points in five of the six games. He registered a double-double in Game 3 with 31 points and 14 rebounds, and had back-to-back near double-doubles in Games 5 and 6. In Tuesday's 104-103 Game 5 loss, he scored a playoff-high 39 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He followed that up on Friday with 27 points and eight boards. Banchero is averaging 25.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 36.7 minutes during the postseason.
Small forward Franz Wagner came up big on Friday in Game 6, pouring in 26 points, while grabbing five rebounds and adding two blocks and two assists in 42 minutes. He registered a double-double with 34 points and 13 rebounds in a 112-89 win in Game 4. Wagner is connecting on 47.2% of his shots from the floor and 82.8% of his free throws. In six postseason games, Wagner is averaging 21 points, seven rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 37.7 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Magic vs. Cavaliers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 205 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that hits in almost 70% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Cavaliers vs. Magic, and which side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Magic vs. Cavaliers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,600 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
