Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 25/04/2024, 04:46  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Orlando Magic will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center in game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Cavaliers are in the driver’s seat, currently leading the series 2-0. 

The Cavaliers took the lead in their NBA playoff series against the Orlando Magic with a Game 1 victory and extended their dominance with another wire-to-wire 96-86 win in game 2. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with a game-high 23 points, supported by forward Evan Mobley with 17 points and center Jarrett Allen, who grabbed a game-high 20 rebounds. Despite their 2-0 series lead, the Cavaliers have yet to fully find their offensive rhythm, evident from their shooting percentages in Game 2. They only shot 41.5% from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, making just 12 of 39 attempts. Additionally, the Magic have been effective in forcing turnovers, with Orlando forcing 32 turnovers while committing 28. Despite the close regular-season standings, where only one game separated these sides, the Cavaliers have asserted their dominance in the playoffs and have a commanding lead. 

The Orlando Magic find themselves in the hole after dropping Game 2 of their first-round series against Cleveland. Their offensive woes, highlighted by a failure to surpass 90 points in the playoffs thus far, have placed them in a significant deficit as the series now heads over to Orlando for games 3 and 4. In Game 2, Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 21 points, followed by Franz Wagner with 18 points. However, their efforts were affected by Jalen Suggs' knee strain, which sidelined him for a large part of the first half. Despite a competitive start, the Cavs established a double-digit lead and dominated the game from then on. The Magic struggled to find their shooting touch once again, managing only a 36.3% field goal percentage and converting just 9 of 35 attempts from beyond the arc. As the Magic navigate the postseason challenges, the prospect of returning home may offer them a chance to regroup and mount a comeback in the series.