NBA preview and tips: Orlando Magic at San Antonio Spurs
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) drives between Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) and center Khem Birch (24) during first half NBA action in Toronto
San Antonio Spurs (17-50) welcome Orlando Magic (28-40) to the AT&T Center in a clash between arguably two of the worst sides in the NBA, but it has the potential to be entertaining nevertheless.
While you won't see the level of quality that Milwaukee and Phoenix should produce later in the evening, you should see lots of points and a high-tempo game. When the sides met in Orlando this season the Magic ran out 133-113 winners.
San Antonio's inability to play good defence has seen them allow an average of 120 points per game at home, whilst Orlando allows 113.
Orlando just averaged 128 points across their four-game home stand, but prior to that, they scored 117 points in road games against Milwaukee and Charlotte. Those six games have averaged in excess of 240 points.
San Antonio are a team that just doesn't manage to slow other sides down very often, but they do score a reasonable amount of points themselves. Their 102-90 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder last time out was the first time in five games they hadn't reached the 110-point mark.
The Spurs have averaged 113 points per game at home this season, but shot just 37.50 per cent against OKC last time out. They should look to push the pace here and make a big improvement on that number.
The Over is 28-13 as an underdog and also 11-5 as a home underdog. Two trends of note for the Magic is that the Over is 17-5 on the back of them scoring 125 points in their previous game, and 14-6 following an ATS win.
The Magic should be able to keep the feel-good factor going against the Spurs and while their road games against losing teams have averaged in the upper 220's this season, San Antonio's pace, porous defence, and improved shooting percentage should be enough to send this game over.
Orlando have started to trend over with five of their last six surpassing the bookmaker's total, whilst seven of the last meetings between the two have gone over.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero had his struggles in February, but March seems to be a fresh start for the 20-year-old, who averages 24 points per game so far.
He became the chief creator in the 124-116 victory over Miami, but I suspect he'll see an opportunity to put up a big number here.
Suggested Bet
Over 234 points
The games gets under way at 19:00 EST (midnight UK time)
- George Dempsey provides basketball tips as The NBA Tipster on Tipstrr
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