Orlando Magic at Miami Heat in Southeast Action
The rivalry between the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat has been lopsided as of late. However, the action on the court continues to be intense. As so often happens when one team heads downward in a rivalry and the other team heads upward, the downtrodden team gets up for the rivalry game that much more. In the last three seasons, the Magic has a win and three losses of fewer than 12 points in the 2012 season, a112-110 OT loss, a 97-96 loss, a 14 point and 12 point loss last season and a blowout loss this season 120-92 followed by a 101-99 three days later and a 16 point loss. So while the Magic has only one win during the Heat’s championship run, they also have only one loss over 20 points and three by two or fewer.
The Magic has been terrible during these games too and still most of the time hung right with the Heat. They are still bad this season if we look at their 18-42 record, but at one time the Magic was 10-30. So that means they have gone 8-12 since, which is a much better win percentage. Are we saying the Magic will beat Miami tonight? No. But we are saying that it has a better chance of happening than one might think.
In other Southeast action, the Washington Wizards visit the Philadelphia 76ers in a big game as far as the Wizards are concerned. Washington is currently only two games from the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, which we all know means home court in the first round. The Wizard will be trying to extend their win streak to six games and also the Sixers losing streak to 13 in a row. Philly is sinking down towards the worst record in the NBA ans they lead the Milwaukee Bucks by only 3.5 games.
Carbon Sports has the odds for these two games:
Washington at Philadelphia– Washington is -12 -115 and Philadelphia is +12 -105 ATS. Moneyline has Washington -850 and the Sixers +600. Over/Under is 213 with over and under both -110. We are going to go with the Wizards -12 -115 and the over -110. The Sixers are now just playing out the string. We do not see them putting up much of a fight tonight. Washington has too much to lose not to come out focused. Look for John Wall and Brad Beal to light it up.
Orlando at Miami- Magic is +14 -110 and Miami is -14 -110 ATS. Moneyline has Miami -2400 and Orlando +1300. Over/Under is 200.5 with both over and under -110. We like the Magic +14 -110 but we also like the Heat -2400. We also like the under -110. For Orlando to hang tough they will have to rebound and play tough defense. Also Jameer Nelson will have to have a great game and also Nik Vucevic will have to dominate on the glass. Some of his best rebounding games in his career have been against the Heat. Miami may need some help form someone other than Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. Chris Bosh or Ray Allen may need to score over 15 tonight for the Heat to hold off the pesky Magic.
