Orlando Covered Spread vs. East Teams in 60% of Games Last Season; +4.5 Underdogs in Toronto on Monday
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: March 28, 2020 at 2:04 pm EDTPublished:
- Sportsbooks list the Orlando Magic as 4.5-point underdogs Monday at Toronto
- The Magic covered the spread 60 percent last season against NBA Eastern Conference teams.
- They are 0-2 ATS vs the East so far this season
Has the magic worn off for the Orlando Magic?
Last season, they were simply magical against the spread when facing NBA Eastern Conference opposition. Orlando went 32-19-1 ATS (62.5 percent) against the rest of the East in 2018-19.
While it’s certainly a small sample size, the early indications are that the spell has been broken.
Orlando is off to 1-1 start straight up this season, both games coming against Eastern Conference teams. But the Magic are 0-2 ATS.
Orlando is in Toronto Monday to face the reigning NBA Champion Raptors. Toronto is listed as 4.5-point favorites at sportsbooks.
Orlando Magic vs Toronto Raptors Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Magic | +165 | +4.5 (-115) | Over 212.0 (-105) |
| Toronto Raptors | -190 | -4.5 (-105) | Under 212.0 (-115) |
Odds taken Oct. 28.
It’s the first meeting between the two teams since the Raptors dispatched the Magic in the opening round of last spring’s NBA playoffs.
Orlando Goes Against the Grain
A contender in the Southeast Division, the Magic opened at home with a solid win 94-85 over the Central Division’s Cleveland Cavaliers. But Orlando failed to cover as 9.5 favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uMCS2axDwc
Next, the Magic traveled to Atlanta to square off with the Southeast rivals the Hawks. Orlando was the 2.5-point chalk on the road. However, the Hawks won outright 103-99.
Orlando finished the 2018-19 NBA regular season with four straight ATS wins against Eastern Conference clubs and were 10-2 ATS in the last 12 games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF0vIHNkYfg
The previous time they’d dropped two in a row ATS against the East was March 5 when facing the Philadelphia 76ers and March 13 against the Washington Wizards.
Orlando vs Toronto: A Tale of Two Seasons
During the 2018-19 NBA regular season, the Raptors and Magic split four meetings straight up. However, the Magic were 3-1 ATS when facing Toronto.
Orlando covered as 7-point underdogs at home on Nov. 20 in a 93-91 loss. Also at home and as 4.5-point underdogs on Dec. 28, the Magic won outright 116-87.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYRwp-1ub8g
It was the same story in the first meeting between the two teams at Toronto on Feb. 24. Orlando were 113-98 outright winners as 7-point underdogs.
Toronto claimed its only regular-season double from Orlando at home on Apr. 1. The Raptors won 121-109 and covered as the 6.5-point chalk.
When the two teams met in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, though, the roles were reversed. The Raptors absolutely rubbed out the Magic.
Toronto won the series in five games. Orlando looked like it would keep the magic rolling following a 104-101 road upset in Game 1 as 9.5-point road underdogs. But the Raptors won the next four games to take the best-of-seven series and went 3-1 ATS in the process.
Orlando’s only other ATS success was in a 98-93 Game 3 loss as 5.5-point underdogs.
Raptors Ready to Roar?
Which Orlando will show up Monday in Toronto – the regular-season Magic who gave the Raptors fits, or the playoff Magic who succumbed so willingly?
Perhaps the more important question is which Raptors team will show up? The 2-1 Raptors won going away 108-84 Saturday at Chicago. That came on the heels of a substandard performance at Boston in a 112-106 loss to the Celtics.
Hawks G Trae Young put up 39 points against the Magic on Saturday, and they'll see another player who's difficult to defend tonight in Raptors F Pascal Siakam. Magic coach Steve Clifford said Siakam does so many things well offensively it's hard to key on one area.
— Roy Parry (@RoyParryIII) October 28, 2019
Overall, the Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last six games. They’re also 2-4 ATS in their last six against the Raptors. Orlando is also 3-12 SU in its last 15 visits to Toronto.
As well, the Magic are 0-5 ATS in their last five games played in October.
Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its last six against Eastern Conference teams, and 10-3 ATS overall in the last 13 games.
Pick: Toronto Raptors -4.5 (-105).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
