Surging Magic strong favourites over road-warrior Nets in NBA
Daniel Coyle, American Sports Correspondent | December 30, 2015
The Orlando Magic will look to continue the strong play that has made them sportsbook darlings in recent weeks, when they play host to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night as strong 7.5-point favourites in NBA betting with Coral.
Straight up winners in six of their past eight, the 18-13 Magic have climbed into playoff contention in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, entering Wednesday night’s matchup at Amway Center in a three-way tie with Miami and Boston for sixth place.
While the club’s strong first half gives Magic fans hope of a return to postseason action for the first time since 2012, loyal sports bettors have been enjoying Orlando’s consistent performance, including an impressive 14-3 against the spread run over their past 17, lifting them to the top of the NBA with an overall 22-9 ATS record.
Orlando is coming off a 104-89 win over New Orleans on Monday, also tallying the ATS win as 4-point betting chalk, breaking the century mark for the ninth time in their past 10, and improving to 12-5 SU during their current run.
However, home floor has been less than kind to the Magic, who are just 4-3 SU and ATS in their last seven, including a dismal 108-101 Boxing Day loss to the Heat as 5-point favourites.
The Nets recorded a gutsy 111-105 victory in Miami on Monday, picking up the win as 7.5-point underdogs and extending their current SU road win streak to two games.
It has otherwise been a brutal December for Brooklyn, who are 2-7 SU over their past nine, including a 105-82 home loss to the Magic two weeks ago.
Despite their difficulties recording SU wins, the Nets have been a steady performer, covering in each of their last three road contests, to improve to 10-5 ATS on the road this season, while going 7-4 ATS in their past 11 overall.
The Nets have also rediscovered their offensive touch in recent outings, averaging 107.5 ppg over their past four, pushing the point total OVER in each of those contests.
Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics (-12.5)
While the Heat enjoy a couple days off before hosting the Dallas Mavericks on New Year’s Day, the Celtics are in action on Wednesday, hosting Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers as 12.5-point favourites.
Boston rides a four-game SU and ATS win streak into their final contest of 2015, including a pair of wins at TD Garden that ended a three-game losing streak on home hardwood.
The Lakers will be playing their third road game in four nights when they arrive for Kobe’s final visit to Boston, ahead of his retirement at the end of this season.
Following a 112-96 beat down in Memphis on Sunday, Los Angeles dropped a 108-98 decision to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, but the club has eked out ATS wins in three of their last five, and are 7-2 SU in their last nine against Boston, including SU wins in three of their last five dates in Beantown.
NBA championship odds
While the Celtics, Heat, and Magic are each on track to win a respectable 48 games this season, only Miami has seen their NBA championship odds buoyed in NBA futures.
The Heat sport solid 12/1 odds to win the Eastern Conference, well ahead of the Celtics at 28/1, and Orlando at 125/1, and are a 33/1 bet to win their first NBA title since 2013.
At 80/1, Boston has improved slightly from the 100/1 odds they owned in the preseason, while the Magic have yet to earn oddsmaker respect, lagging just ahead of the longshots, at a distant 250/1.
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