Magic vs Cavaliers Game 1 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

Magic vs Cavaliers Game 1 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

The 2024 NBA Playoffs begin with a jam packed 4-game slate this Saturday -- and the first matchup of the weekend we'll preview is Magic vs. Cavaliers Game 1, which is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Cavs are 4.5-point favorites on the spread in Saturday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 207 total points at DraftKings.

Here's everything you need to know about Magic vs. Cavaliers -- the latest betting odds, as well as our expert picks and prediction for the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, April 20. For more basketball action, check out our NBA odds.

Magic vs Cavaliers Odds

ORL @ CLE Odds

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Magic vs Cavaliers Picks & Prediction

The Cavaliers were bounced by New York in five games in the first round of last year’s playoffs – and unfortunately, they didn’t do much to quiet their critics throughout this season as Cleveland finished fourth in the East with a record of 48-34 – and similarly to their previous campaign, they were consistently hampered by an underperforming offense.

Last year, Cleveland finished fourth in the East while ranking 1st in defensive rating and 9th in defensive rating. This year, however, it’s been the same song and dance for the Cavs, except their defense has taken a major step back and their offensive woes have been amplified. 

After leading the entire NBA in defensive rating while also boasting a top-10 defense last year, the Cavaliers rank just 18th in offensive rating and 9th in defensive rating this season – which became increasingly more worrisome down the stretch as they closed their campaign with a miserable 9-14 skid, while ranking bottom-10 in the league in both offensive and defensive rating during that time frame.

On the other side of that same coin, Orlando also strikes me as a team that’s still a few years away from being a legitimate contender in the East. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are years away from competing with unproven playoff teams such as Cleveland.

Similarly to Cleveland, the Magic tend to struggle at the offensive end of the floor. They rank 24th in points scored per game and 24th in offensive rating. But fortunately, their defense is usually good enough to keep them afloat, considering they rank 4th in points allowed and 2nd in defensive rating on the season. And lately, their offense has cranked it up a notch, highlighted by the Magic ranking 14th in offensive rating over the last month or so.

In a matchup between a pair of elite defensive teams that cannot be trusted at the offensive end of the floor, I believe offense will be the X-factor in this series – and as of late, the Magic have been the far better offensive team (and they also have the edge defensively).

Pick: Magic +4.5 (-110)

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Magic vs Cavaliers Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Saturday, April 20
Matchup: Southeast vs Central
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Location: Cleveland, OH
Time-TV: ESPN, 1:00 p.m. ET

Magic vs Cavaliers Betting Stats

3) Cleveland Cavaliers
(2nd Place, Central)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +4200
  • Odds to Win Conference: +1600
  • SU: 48-34
  • ATS: 39-43
  • O/U: 40-41-1
  • PPG: 112.6
  • OPPG: 110.2

6) Orlando Magic
(1st Place, Southeast)

  • Odds To Win Finals: +16000
  • Odds to Win Conference: +6500
  • SU: 47-35
  • ATS: 51-31
  • O/U: 37-44-1
  • PPG: 110.5
  • OPPG: 108.4

NBA Playoffs Betting Resources