Friday, February 26, 2010 - NBA Free Pick
Orlando Magic (39-19) at New Orleans Hornets (30-28), 9:30 p.m. EST, TV: ESPN
The Orlando Magic, the first-place team in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division, travel to play the New Orleans Hornets, the third-place team in the Western Conference’s Southwest Division.
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Orlando leads the season series 1-0.
The Magic seem to be growing more assured of themselves as a team by the week, and no doubt got a major confidence boost by topping Cleveland last Sunday and will try to win their third straight against the Hornets. Chemistry issues that arose before the All-Star break seem to have dissipated, and a lot of that credit goes to the play of Vince Carter, who must be licking his chops for this game after torching New Orleans for 48 points earlier this month. Oh, and there’s this guy named Dwight Howardæ.æ.æ. heard of him?
The Hornets are playing really, really bad right now. It’s easy to make excuses for them with All-Star point guard Chris Paul out for another couple of weeks, but the last two losses _ by 10 at Cleveland followed by 20 at Milwaukee _ are cause for concern. The problem isn’t necessarily with Darren Collison, who is filling in admirably for Paul (although he can’t hold a torch to CP3), but with an exposed lineup without Paul. Word to the wise: If Morris Peterson is in your starting lineup, that’s not good. With Dallas and San Antonio following this, it might be a minute before New Orleans wins again.
The odds makers have the Magic at -5-point favorites.
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Orlando needs to just keep doing what it’s been doing lately to win here _ get the ball to Dwight Howard first, then look to see if Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter has the hot hand. New Orleans must pull a rabbit out of the hat to get wins lately, relying on Peja Stojakovic and David West to get points. But who gets them the ball?
Look for the Magic to stay focused and win by seven points.
Orlando Magic Betting Trends:
- Orlando is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Orlando is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Orlando’s last 12 games
- Orlando is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
New Orleans Hornets Betting Trends:
- New Orleans is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of New Orleans’s last 16 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans’s last 6 games
- New Orleans is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games at home
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