Orlando is Peaking at the Perfect Time
If you haven’t been paying attention to the Orlando Magic over the last week, it’s time to wake up. With the regular season wrapping up this Sunday, Orlando is suddenly playing their best basketball of the year. They are currently sitting at 44-36, holding down the 7th spot in the East, and are locked in a wildly tight race for premium playoff/play-in positioning.
Here is the breakdown of what is working, what is next, and how to make some cash on it this weekend.
The Streak: Four Games and Counting
The Magic have officially ripped off four straight wins, culminating in a highly impressive 132-120 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
Orlando's offense has been an absolute juggernaut during this stretch. Against Minnesota, Paolo Banchero needed just three quarters to drop a team-high 20 points on extremely efficient 8-of-11 shooting. But it wasn't just the Paolo show:
Desmond Bane poured in 18 points and dished out 6 assists.
Franz Wagner shook off a brief third-quarter injury scare to tally 17 points in just 22 minutes.
Goga Bitadze was an absolute monster off the bench, taking advantage of a resting Rudy Gobert to log a massive 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.
When this team is getting bench production like that and Jalen Suggs is consistently draining threes (he has hit two or more from deep in seven of his last eight games), they are a nightmare matchup for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Next Up: The Chicago Bulls
The push for the postseason continues on Friday, April 10, at 8:00 PM EDT when the Magic travel to the United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls.
Every single game matters right now. With the Boston Celtics looming on Sunday for the regular-season finale, Orlando needs to take care of business in the Windy City to ensure they carry this momentum—and the highest seed possible—into the play-in tournament or a guaranteed first-round series.
Hard Rock Bet Action
With the Magic rolling, there is plenty of value on the board. Here are the projected lines for Friday night's clash against the Bulls over at Hard Rock Bet:
Note: Odds are subject to shift as we get closer to tip-off.
Individual Props to Watch:
Paolo Banchero Total Points: O/U 21.5
Jalen Suggs Total 3-Pointers Made: O/U 1.5
Goga Bitadze Total Rebounds: O/U 7.5
The Queen's 3-Leg Parlay
If you are looking to spice up your Friday night viewing, I've put together a specialized 3-leg parlay over on Hard Rock Bet that rides the hot hands in Orlando.
The Play: Orlando Momentum Builder (+320)
Leg 1: Orlando Magic Moneyline (-225) * The Logic: The Magic have everything to play for, while the Bulls are just playing out the string. Orlando is the better team and they will not drop the ball against an inferior squad with playoff positioning on the line.
Leg 2: Paolo Banchero Over 19.5 Points (-140)
The Logic: Banchero has hit the 20-point mark in three consecutive games. He's the alpha of this offense and volume is practically guaranteed in a must-win road game.
Leg 3: Jalen Suggs Over 1.5 Made Threes (-150)
The Logic: Suggs has cleared this line in seven of his last eight outings, including knocking down three from beyond the arc on Wednesday. Chicago's perimeter defense leaves plenty of gaps, and Suggs will be there to capitalize.
Lock it in, sit back, and let's watch the Magic make it five in a row.
Disclaimer: All odds courtesy of Hard Rock Bet. Please remember to gamble responsibly.
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