The Toronto Raptors have certainly responded to losing Game 1 in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Orlando Magic. They went down to Florida on Sunday and demolished the Magic, 107-85, behind 34 points from Kawhi Leonard. Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell each added 16 for Toronto, who now leads the series 3-1. Orlando got a strong start from Aaron Gordon after halftime, as he made his first seven shots after the intermission and had 25 for the game. Evan Fournier added 19, and Nikola Vucevic chipped in 11, but Orlando had 17 turnovers which the Raptors turned in to 21 points — one less than the final margin of victory. Can the Magic turn things around in Game 5? Or will Toronto bring the series to an end? We have your NBA sports betting preview right here.
Magic vs Raptors 2019 NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Game 5 Preview
Gameday Report: Time to fight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PwQaq3GHLs
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 23, 2019
- When: Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 7:00pm ET
- Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
- TV: NBA TV
- Radio: 740 AM Orlando / TSN 1050 AM Toronto
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Opening NBA Odds: Toronto -11.5, O/U 206
Why should you bet on Orlando?
The Magic have their season on the brink in Game 5, and that urgency should motivate the Magic to play better as a team than they did in Game 4, when they basically hung Aaron Gordon out to dry. With that said, the average margin for the four games in this series has been Toronto +13.3, even with the Game 1 victory for the Magic calculated in. Orlando is clanking from distance, shooting just 30.7 percent from downtown, so despite the fact that Gorden, Fournier and Terrence Ross are scoring in double figures, the Magic are not doing enough on offense to get wins.
Orlando has done well against the spread lately, covering in six of their last eight games. In their last 24 games against opponents from the Atlantic Division, they have covered 17 times. If you like Orlando here, you think that they will come out fighting in ways that they did not in either game down in Florida, and will push the Raptors hard with their playoff lifes on the line.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Points/G: 107.3
- Field Goal %: 45.4
- 3-Point %: 35.6
- Free Throw %: 78.2
- Rebounds/G: 45.4
- Points/G: 106.6
- Field Goal %: 45.6
- 3-Point %: 34.7
- Free Throw %: 77.8
- Rebounds/G: 44.6
Why should you put your money on Toronto?
Toronto is shooting well in this series, averaging 47.8 percent for the four games, and they have averaged 104.3 points per game. Kawhi Leonard is the leading scorer, averaging 28 points and 6.5 boards per game. Siakam is putting up 22.3 points per game and leads the team with nine boards per contest. Serge Ibaka is also cleaning up the glass, grabbing eight boards per game, and Kyle Lowry is also scoring in double figures. The Raptors are shooting better from downtown (35.4 percent) and are making almost 85 percent of their free throws.
At home, the Raptors have been strong, winning six of their last nine. As far as numbers against the spread go, Toronto has covered in seven of their last eight games played on one day’s rest, and in nine of their last 13 conference quarterfinal games — as well as in eight of their last 11 overall. If you like Toronto, you see a team that has increased its confidence exponentially since the series opener putting the finishing touches on an Orlando team that seemed largely to have given up on Sunday.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Points/G: 114.4
- Field Goal %: 47.4
- 3-Point %: 36.6
- Free Throw %: 80.4
- Rebounds/G: 45.2
- Points/G: 108.4
- Field Goal %: 44.9
- 3-Point %: 34.5
- Free Throw %: 76.5
- Rebounds/G: 44.8
NBA Playoffs Betting Trends for Orlando Magic vs Toronto Raptors
- Magic are 5-0 in their last 5 games following an ATS loss
- Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss
- Magic are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall
- Raptors are 7-1 in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest
- Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall
- Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Tuesday games
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
I like Aaron Gordon and the rest of the young Orlando core. However, that team is no match for an inspired Toronto team that has taken energy from the departure of LeBron James from the Eastern Conference bracket. I see Toronto rolling to a 120-102 win to end the series and to cover that spread.
