San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic Betting Odds


Opening Line: Spurs +7.5 / Magic -7.5 O/U 193

Time: 8 PM EST Wednesday March 17, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight the Spurs look to sweep their Sunshine State road trip playing the Orlando Magic tonight after beating the Miami Heat last night. Orlando is coming off a loss, but is 8-2 in their last 10 games while the Spurs have won 4 straight and are also 8-2 in their last 10 games.

This season the Magic are 27-7 at home and 34-30-4 ATS and the Spurs are 16-15 on the road and 33-32 ATS.

In their last games the Spurs beat the Miami Heat last night 88-76 while the Magic lost to the Charlotte Bobcats 96-89 on Sunday.

The reason the Spurs are playing so well is their defense, which is only giving up an average of 88.5 ppg in their last 8 games.

It looks as if the Magic will be the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and the Spurs are currently in the 7th position in the West, but only trail 4th place Utah by 2 games. If they can move up in the conference they can host a 1sdt round playoff series and avoid playing the Lakers, Denver, and Dallas in the 1st round.

The Spurs are 4-1 since star PG Tony Parker was lost for the season and Manu Ginobili, who has averaged 21.6 ppg starting for Parker, and backup PG 12.1 ppg have really stepped up.

The Magic have won 2 straight over the Spurs and look for the franchise's first 3 game winning streak against them tonight.

This is a match up of 2 of the better defensive teams in the league, as the Magic rank 4th in opponents' points allowed (95.1 ppg) and the Spurs rank 7th (95.7 ppg).

Both of these teams are solid on the boards, but the Spurs will really need a team effort to contain Dwight Howard (18.7 ppg 13.2 rpg), who leads the league in rebounding.

The Spurs will also have to play solid perimeter defense against the Magic shooters of Vince Carter (16.6 ppg), Rashard Lewis (14.2 ppg), and Jameer Nelson (12.3 ppg).

Tim Duncan (18.5 ppg 10.4 rpg) is the big gun for the Spurs and he will have to have a good game on both ends of the court, especially on offense.

Betting Trends

San Antonio is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog, and has an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 road games.

Orlando is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games against teams with a winning record, and has an Under record of 15-5-1 in their last 21 home games.

In 7 of the last 9 games between these 2 teams in Orlando the total has gone Over.

Our Selection : Take the Spurs plus the points.


Future Betting Odds

NBA Handicapping

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
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