Steve Merril
Friday, Feb. 5
NBA
(3% play) ORLANDO +4 (vs. L.A. Clippers) - 7:05 pm ET #858
Los Angeles’ 4-game winning streak was snapped on Wednesday night when they lost at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers just completed a 3-game home stand after playing a 5-game East Coast road trip where they went 3-2 SU over a 7-day span. Now the Clippers must hit the road again tonight, and it will begin another 4-game East Coast road trip. This is a terrible scheduling spot for the Clippers, and it’s highly unlikely they’ll come with their best effort in this game, especially with a more important national TV game at Miami on deck this Sunday afternoon. Two of Los Angeles’ three recent road wins have come by just 2 points apiece. Overall, the Clippers have allowed 101.1 points per game on 44.5% shooting from the field and 36.4% shooting from three-point land on the road this season.
Orlando is just 2-14 SU over their last 16 games played, but the Magic have been a competitive team recently. The Magic were routinely losing games by 15 to 20 points at the beginning of their downswing, but over their last few games, Orlando has lost close games; five of their last seven losses have come by single digits. The Magic are playing with a lot of confidence right now despite losing games, and that makes them a dangerous underdog. Orlando has played five of their last six games on the road; their lone recent home game resulted in a 119-114 win over Boston last Sunday night. Overall, Orlando is 13-10 SU at home where they are averaging 101.9 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field and 36% shooting from three-point land. Orlando is catching Los Angeles at the perfect time, so we’ll take the Magic plus the points in this game on Friday night.
Play MAGIC (+) as a 3% play.
Friday, Feb. 5
NBA
(3% play) ORLANDO +4 (vs. L.A. Clippers) - 7:05 pm ET #858
Los Angeles’ 4-game winning streak was snapped on Wednesday night when they lost at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers just completed a 3-game home stand after playing a 5-game East Coast road trip where they went 3-2 SU over a 7-day span. Now the Clippers must hit the road again tonight, and it will begin another 4-game East Coast road trip. This is a terrible scheduling spot for the Clippers, and it’s highly unlikely they’ll come with their best effort in this game, especially with a more important national TV game at Miami on deck this Sunday afternoon. Two of Los Angeles’ three recent road wins have come by just 2 points apiece. Overall, the Clippers have allowed 101.1 points per game on 44.5% shooting from the field and 36.4% shooting from three-point land on the road this season.
Orlando is just 2-14 SU over their last 16 games played, but the Magic have been a competitive team recently. The Magic were routinely losing games by 15 to 20 points at the beginning of their downswing, but over their last few games, Orlando has lost close games; five of their last seven losses have come by single digits. The Magic are playing with a lot of confidence right now despite losing games, and that makes them a dangerous underdog. Orlando has played five of their last six games on the road; their lone recent home game resulted in a 119-114 win over Boston last Sunday night. Overall, Orlando is 13-10 SU at home where they are averaging 101.9 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field and 36% shooting from three-point land. Orlando is catching Los Angeles at the perfect time, so we’ll take the Magic plus the points in this game on Friday night.
Play MAGIC (+) as a 3% play.
