Orlando Magic at New York Knicks Betting Odds


Opening Betting Line : Magic -1.5 / Knicks +1.5
Over/Under : 203

Time: 8 PM EST Wednesday March 23, 2011 on ESPN

Many though the Knicks had a good shot to go far in the playoffs when they traded for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, but they are only 7-9 since bringing them to the Big Apple and they have lost 3 straight. The Knicks have really struggled on D in the 2nd half in their last 16 games giving up over 53 ppg. When these 2 teams met at the beginning of the month the Knicks allowed the Magic to score 69 points in the 2nd half and Orlando won by 6 points.

Orlando has won 3 straight and they look to finish strong so they can, maybe, snag the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference. The Magic won their last game against lowly Cleveland, but they committed 20 turnovers and they cannot do that tonight against a Knicks’ team that is in dire need of a win.

In their last games both teams played on Monday with the Magic beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-86 while the Knicks gave up a huge first half lead and lost to the Boston Celtics 96-86.

The Knicks have been a better betting team on the season at 40-28-2 ATS while Orlando is only 30-40-1 ATS. The Magic have covered the spread in 4 of their last 5 games facing the Knicks.

The Knicks are the 2nd highest scoring team in the league and they need to light up the scoreboard to win, as they only ranks 27th in the league in opponents’ points allowed. The Knicks have failed to score more than 95 points in their last 3 games. That is not good facing a Magic defense that ranks 5th in the league and has held opponents under 90 points in their last 3 games.

Amare Stoudemire, Melo, and Billups are averaging almost a combined 60 points per game and they have to have good scoring games tonight. Melo has to step up in the clutch, as in the Knicks 3-game losing streak he has only scored a grand total of 12 points in the 4th quarter.

It will not be easy for Amare to score since Dwight Howard will be in the lane waiting for him. Superman is 2nd in the league in rebounds per game and 2nd in the league in blocks per game.

The Knicks have to play good D on the perimeter tonight, as the Magic are one of the best 3-pt shooting teams in the league. Jason Richardson, Jameer Nelson, and Hedo Turkoglu are all shooting around 39% from beyond the 3-pt arc. However, they will likely be without sharpshooter J.J. Reddick (10.1 ppg 39.7% 3-pt FG%), as he has an abdominal injury.

In some other betting trends for this Eastern Conference match up:

Orlando is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games, and has an Under record of 16-5 in their last 21 games.

New York is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a home underdog of 0.5-4.5, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 home games as an underdog.

In the last 5 games between these 2 teams the total has gone Over every time.

Our Selection : We don't know about you, but this is a definite stay away game for side betting with both teams' ATS woes of late. We do like the total though. Both teams have struggled in recent games and while historically when these two teams meet it has reluted in an over (5 straight Overs) we think that the oddsmaker has posted the line high enough for us to justify an under wager. Take the UNDER 204 at 5Dimes and get reduced juice on every bet!!


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