Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 10/12/2023, 07:15  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 10/12/2023 at 07:16 in NBA Predictions

The Cleveland Cavaliers will aim to build on a four-game road winning streak against the Orlando Magic on Monday, December 11. The hosts are 15-7 and second in the Eastern Conference, while the visitors are 13-9 and in sixth place.  

In the face of the absence of three starters and a key rotational player during Friday's match against the Pistons, Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley found himself relying more on players from the deeper end of the team's bench. Yet, despite missing key personnel, the Magic claimed a solid 123-91 victory, with Franz Wagner scoring 27 points while Paolo Banchero added 24. The Magic now rank first in field goal attempts within three feet of the basket and second in free throw attempts. The recent success in generating quality shots can be attributed to the team's exceptional ball movement, ranking fourth in assists with an average of 29 per contest since November 26. Notably, the Magic's offensive efficiency tends to align with their defensive performance, as evidenced in their latest victory against the Detroit Pistons. Orlando limited Detroit to just 42% overall shooting and a mere 20% from beyond the arc. The Amway Center has emerged as one of the NBA's formidable home environments, with the Magic boasting a 10-1 record there this season.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers orchestrated a decisive 21-2 run between the second and third quarters to secure a 111-99 victory against the Miami Heat on Friday. Despite a slow start, Donovan Mitchell emerged as the standout performer, finishing with game-highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds. In his 17th game of the 2023-24 NBA season, Tristan Thompson made franchise history by surpassing Austin Carr on the all-time games played list, marking his 636th appearance in the wine-and-gold uniform during the regular season. With a road record of 7-3 this season, the Cavaliers currently share the top spot with Oklahoma City and Minnesota for the best such mark in the NBA. Last week's match between these sides not only showed that the Cavs can score in bunches against one of the better defensive teams in the league, but it also showed that they can lock a team almost across the board. However, they still need to work on their lead management, defensive vulnerabilities, and turnover rate.