Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game 1 Odds, Picks, Predictions & Player Props (Apr. 20)

• Game 1 between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers takes place on Saturday, April 20
• The Magic and Cavs split their four regular-season meetings
• See the Magic vs Cavaliers Game 1 odds, predictions, and player props

The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs kicks off with Game 1 between the #5 Orlando Magic (47-35, 18-23 away, 50-32 ATS) and #4 Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34, 26-15 home, 38-42-2 ATS) at 1:10 pm ET on Saturday, April 20.

The Cavaliers, who lost in the first round as the #4 seed last season the Knicks (four games to one), will be hoping for a much different result this time around, and oddsmakers heavily favor Cleveland taking an early lead in the best-of-seven series.

Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Odds for Game 1

The Magic vs Cavaliers Game 1 odds list Cleveland as a -192 moneyline favorite and -4.5 against the spread. The game total between these two defense-first teams is sitting at just 207.5.

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Odds as of April 20 at Fanatics. New users can claim the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to bet on the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Magic Making Long-Awaited Return to Playoffs

Orlando is making its first postseason appearance since 2020 and will be in search of its first series victory since 2010. The Magic greatly exceeded expectations a year after going 34-48. With a 47-35 record, Orlando crushed its preseason win total of just 37.5, going an NBA-best 50-32 against the spread in the process.

Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero took his next steps toward superstardom, averaging team-highs in points (22.6), rebounds (6.9), and assists (5.4) as a sophomore. But Banchero was just one of six Magic players who averaged in double-figures this season.

Of course, Orlando’s surge up the standings owed far more to its suffocating defense than offense. The Magic finished the season rated third in D-Rating (110.8), atoning for an O-Rating of just 112.9 (22nd).

The Magic split four regular-season games against Cleveland, going 1-1 at home and 1-1 on the road. The most-recent game saw Orlando earn a 116-109 at Cleveland on Feb. 22, but the Cavs were missing Donovan Mitchell.

Cavaliers Getting Healthy(-ish) at the Right Time

The Cavs did well to earn a top-four seed in the NBA playoff bracket considering all the injuries the team dealt with this season. Three of the team’s top-four scorers were limited to 57 games or fewer, including Donovan Mitchell (26.6 PPG, 6.1 APG in 55 games), Darius Garland (18.0 PPG. 6.5 APG in 57 games), and Evan Mobley (15.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG in 50 games).

Several players sat out the regular-season finale against Charlotte but the Cavs are expected to be at nearly full health for Game 1 against Orlando. Ty Jerome (2.0 PPG, 1.5 APG) remains out with an ankle injury, while Dean Wade (5.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG) is unlikely to play due to a lingering knee issue.

The Cavs’ Net Rating took a steep during the injury-plagued campaign. A year after finishing second in the NBA at +5.6, Cleveland sank to 16th at 2.5. Their D-Rating dropped from an NBA-best 109.9 to 112.1 (seventh).

ORL vs CLE Player Props

NBA player props from DraftKings on April 20, 2024.

The massive list of Magic vs Cavaliers props show Mitchell with the highest point total at 25.5, followed by Banchero at 22.5. Cleveland’s twin towers, Allen and Mobley, have the highest rebound totals at 10.5 and 8.5, respectively.

Magic vs Cavaliers Prediction

The Magic have been exceeding expectations all season, and I’m not going to start fading them now against a Cleveland group that cowered under the postseason lights last year.

A team that relies on depth, Orlando has no players on its injury report ahead of Game 1 and should, at the very least, keep this close with their superb defensive effort.

ORL vs CLE pick: Magic +5.5 (-128) at BetMGM

Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NBA betting record:

• 20-26 moneyline (+3.26 units)
• 25-20-2 ATS (+4.61 units)
• 1-1 over/under (-0.09 units)
• 10-16 player props (-7.32 units)
• 0-3 same-game parlay (-3.00 units)