The Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons collide in Game 1 at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night. Here’s a Pistons vs. Magic Prediction. This article will include a Pistons vs. Magic Pick.
Orlando Magic Betting Preview
The Orlando Magic came up flat in their first Play-In game against the 76ers, but with their backs against the wall, the Magic dominated the Hornets 121-90 on Friday to secure the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Paolo Banchero led the team with 25 points, five rebounds and six assists on nine of 17 shooting; Franz Wagner added 18 points with seven rebounds and six assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 16 points on six of seven shooting. As a team, the Magic shot 50 percent from the field and eight of 27 from the 3-point line as they dominated right from the start and outscored the Hornets by 68-37 in the first half, which allowed them to cruise in the second half without a care in the world.
Detroit Pistons Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons are entering the playoffs with plenty of momentum, as they won 15 of their last 19 games to finish with a 60-22 overall record, earning them the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham played just 64 games this season but still finished with averages of 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game; Jalen Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while Tobias Harris averaged 13.3 points with 5.1 rebounds per game. As a team, the Pistons scored 117.8 points per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from the 3-point line.
Why the Detroit Pistons will win
- The Pistons have won each of their last eight playoff home games against the Magic.
- The Magic have lost each of their last six road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Magic have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight playoff games as underdogs against Central Division opponents.
- The Pistons have covered the spread in seven of their last eight night games against the Magic at Little Caesars Arena.
Why the Orlando Magic will win
- The Pistons have lost each of their last 10 playoff home games.
- The Magic have won each of their last seven games against Central Division opponents after winning as underdogs.
- The Magic have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as underdogs when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The Pistons have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five playoff home games.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the Pistons’ last eight games as home favorites have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Magic’s last four games have gone UNDER the total points line.
Detroit Pistons Player Facts
- Ausar Thompson ranks 1st amongst qualified players for steals per game (2.0) this season.
- Cade Cunningham has recorded three games with 10+ assists and zero turnovers this season—most of any player in the league.
Orlando Magic Player Facts
- Desmond Bane ranks 1st in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (90.8%) this season.
- Paolo Banchero is one of only five qualified players in the league to be leading their team in points (22.2), rebounds (8.4) and assists (5.2) per game this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pistons rank 1st in the league for opponent assists per game this season (23.5).
- The Pistons rank 1st in the league for steals per game this season (10.4).
- The Magic rank 1st in the league for free throws made per game this season (22.0).
- The Magic rank 1st in the league for free throw attempts per game this season (27.5).
Pistons vs Magic Prediction
The Magic are still keeping an eye on Jonathan Isaac, who is still dealing with a knee injury, while the Pistons are sweating on the availability of Jalen Duren, who is a game-time decision. These teams met four times in the regular season with the series tied at 2-2. The Magic enter this matchup with plenty of confidence following their impressive display against the Hornets on Friday and they beat the Pistons by 123-107 back on Apr 6, but the Pistons have had plenty of time to prepare for this series and I think they hit the ground running with a win and cover in Game 1.