Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets Betting Pick & Prediction 4/9/24
The Magic (-135) are favored by 2.5 points over the Rockets (+112) in a non-conference matchup. Orlando is 3rd in the East and 1st in the Southeast with a record of 46-32.
Houston has lost five straight and is 11th in the West and 3rd in the Southwest with a record of 38-40. The over/under line for the game is 214.5 and tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 ET at the Toyota Center.
ORLANDO MAGIC VS HOUSTON ROCKETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Orlando Magic -2.5
This game will be played at Toyota Center at 8:00 ET on Tuesday, April 9th.
WHY BET THE ORLANDO MAGIC:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 126-102 in favor of the Magic.
- Our projections have Paolo Banchero finishing with Paolo Banchero points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Magic finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.9% and knocking down 13 threes.
Can The Magic Secure a Road Victory?
In games against Western Conference teams this season, the Magic have an average over/under line of 221.5 compared to today’s line of 214.5. In their games this season, the average combined scoring total has been 218.9 points.
Looking at their ATS record, the Magic are 23-15 on the road and 25-10 as the favorite. As the favorite, they have a scoring differential of +9.2 points per game and are 28-7 straight-up in those games.
Orlando’s last game finished with a combined scoring total of 211 points, which was below the O/U line of 212. The Magic won the game by a score of 113-98 and covered the spread as 7.5-point favorites.
Currently, the Magic are 2.5-point favorites against the Rockets. This season, they have gone 50-28 ATS and have a 46-32 overall record. In the Eastern Conference, they are in 3rd place and are the top team in the Southeast Division.
When it comes to scoring, the Magic are 25th in the NBA, averaging 110.6 points per game. On the road, they are 26th at 108.5 points per game.
In terms of pace, Orlando is 26th in the league at 96.6 possessions per game. They are also 26th in assists at 24.7 per contest.
Despite being 13th in field goal percentage at 47%, the Magic are just 22nd in three-point shooting at 35%.
This season, the Magic defense has been impressive, holding the 3rd position in the league while permitting an average of 108.3 points per contest. On two point field goal attempts, the Magic’s defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 54.7% and allowing 35.5% from beyond the arc.
Can the Houston Offense Score Enough at Home?
The Rockets have lost five straight games and are 38-40 on the season. In the Western Conference, they are in 11th place and are 3rd in the Southwest Division.
As the underdog, the Rockets are 15-35 this season and are 24-25 against the spread. Today, they are getting 2.5 points and have gone 3-5 ATS as the underdog.
Houston’s O/U record for the season is 39-39, and the over has hit in their last five games. This year, their games have averaged 227.5 points per game, and today’s line is set at 214.5.
In their last game, the Rockets lost to the Mavericks by a score of 147-136. The O/U line for that game was 227.5, and Houston was getting 9 points going into the game.
The Rockets’ ATS record for the season is 43-34, and they have failed to cover the spread in their last three games at home. In non-conference games, they are 12-17 compared to 26-14 at home.
At home, the Rockets are averaging 116 points per game, which is 13th in the NBA. Overall, they are 16th in the league in scoring. Houston has outscored the NBA scoring average in 42.3% of their games.
When it comes to three-point shooting, the Rockets are 23rd in the league at 35%. They have made an average of 12.6 threes per game, which is 17th in the NBA. Houston is 27th in the league in assists.
Overall, the Rockets are 27th in field goal percentage at 45%. In terms of pace, they are 13th in the league at 99.3 possessions per game.
This season, the Rockets’ defense is the 12th ranked defense in the NBA at 12th PPG. So far, they have held opposing offenses below the NBA scoring average in 55.1% of their games. Opponents are hitting 54.4% of their two-point field goal attempts this season, and they’re also connecting on 34.8% of their three-point attempts.