Thursday, February 9th, 2012
The Atlanta Hawks will hit the highway to take on the Orlando Magic in an NBA pro basketball game on Saturday night. Tip off time in Orlando is scheduled for 7PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by the NBA TV.
The LVSC NBA odds makers have set the opening point spread in this contest and the Orlando Magic were opened as 5 point favorites with the over under coming in at 197.
The early money from the NBA betting public has come in on the home favorite, as the Orlando Magic are currently a 5 ½ point favorite. The total has been bet downward early in the wagering as the over under is currently lined at 194 ½ for the bettors to play into.
NBA money line gamblers can make a play on the favored Orlando Magic at –240 with the road underdog Atlanta Hawks bringing back +190 to win this game without the need for getting the points.
These clubs are making their third meeting on the season and the Orlando Magic have pounded the Hawks in both games. It was a 93-76 victory for the Magic on November 26th in Atlanta and on January 9th it was Orlando pounding the life out of Atlanta 113-81. The Hawks did not shoot the ball in lick hitting no better than 39% in those games. The Magic was 3 ½ point favorites in both games. Orlando has beaten the Hawks in 5 straight games with Atlanta not eclipsing better than 39% shooting in four of the five games.
Orlando enters this game with a days rest and no travel after defeating the Boston Celtics 96-94 on Thursday night at home. The Magic dominated the glass by out rebounding Boston 59-41. Orlando center Dwight Howard continues to put up good numbers as he is averaging over 21 points per game and 14 rebounds over his past 5 games. In the two meetings against the Hawks Howard has averaged 17 points on 12 boards and 3 ½ block shots.
The Hawks will face the Magic in a difficult scheduling spot on the back end of a back-to-back and facing travel. The Hawks have dropped their last 4 straight games on the back end of back-to-back games. The team is coming off a 100-91 victory over the Boston Celtics as a 4-point favorite. They shot the ball very well hitting on over 47% from the field. Joe Johnson has been hot hitting on 25 of 48 and averaging 29 points over his past two games. He has not faired that well in the two meetings this season against the Magic converting on just 36% from the field. Jamal Crawford has been a spark off the bench for the Hawks with over 22 points a game and 14 of 30 shooting from the three point line over his past 5 games.
Trend: Orlando Magic are 5-0 ATS in their past 5 meetings
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