The Duke's Sports
Atlanta (+7) for 1.5 Units
Hawks have now covered 8 straight in this series and have taken a 3-1 lead in the series. Linesmakers are patiently awaiting the dominant display of the Magic to awaken in this series like it did last year; instead, the Hawks are outplaying the Magic and psychologically control the edge. Orlando is shooting a poor 40.3% in this series and the Hawks will gladly let Howard do his thing with the double-double as long as his surrounding cast clanks their shots; as a matter of fact, the Magic's rate from behind the arc is a laughable 21.9%! Sunday, you would think Van Gundy would go to Plan B when they were 2 of 22 from behind the arc, yet ended up 2 of 23 there. Orlando has lived by the 3 for most of the year and should die with it here for Atlanta is guarding the perimeter well. There is always that chance that the Magic's guards will drive the lanes and attack the basket more, but we'll stay with the stubborn Hawks, which have a heated up Joe Johnson and a productive Crawford off the bench. Magic not so magical as home chalk at 1-9 ATS.