Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic – 8/18/20 NBA Pick, Odds, and Prediction

The Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks collide in Game 1 of the Conference Quarterfinals at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

The Orlando Magic stumbled their way into the postseason as they lost five of their last six games in the bubble to finish with the eighth seed and an unfavourable matchup with the Bucks. Nikola Vucevic was the most consistent performer for the Magic with averages of 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, Evan Fournier averaged 18.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, Terrence Ross averaged 14.7 points while Markelle Fultz averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 assists per game. As a team, the Magic averaged 107.3 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 34.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line. Unfortunately, the Magic have a long list of injuries as they are without Mo Bamba, Michael Carter-Williams, Jonathan Isaac and Al-Farouq Aminu, while Aaron Gordon is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks are coming into the playoffs with the top seed in the Eastern Conference and they will be ready to make a long run with their lineup at full strength. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with averages of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, Khris Middleton averaged 20.9 points and 4.3 assists per game, Eric Bledsoe averaged 14.9 points and 5.4 assists per game while Brook Lopez averaged 12.0 points and 2.4 blocks per game. As a team, the Bucks averaged 118.7 points per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from the 3-point line.

Looking at the betting trends, the Magic are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games against a team with a winning record, 5-11 ATS in their last 16 Conference Quarterfinals games and 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games overall. The Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games playing on three or more days rest, 4-0 ATS in their last four Conference Quarterfinals games and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall.

Head to head, the under is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings overall and the Magic are 2-5-1 ATS in the last eight meetings overall.

The Magic haven’t been anywhere near their best as they’ve been struggling with injuries at key positions, but the news is that Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier should be good to go in this one, which is a major boost for the Magic. In terms of talent, the Bucks are far and away the better team and they should cruise in this one, but they were far from convincing in their eight games in the bubble. With that being said, I’m more comfortable taking the Magic with the points in this one.