NBA Playoffs 2023/24, 1st round, Game 5, Wednesday, 01.05.2024
If you have a suitable sports betting app at hand and are interested in the NBA Playoffs 2024, then you should take the opportunity to call up the matching odds for this Cavaliers Magic tip.
Because although “home court” has been of paramount importance in this series so far, a few things could be the Cavs’ undoing on Wednesday night. From the Wagner brothers to their sudden weakness on shots beyond the arc,
In tennis, a tie-break is all about scoring points on your own serve. The same applies to the NBA play-offs, where you should win your own home game if possible.
So far, both opponents have done themselves no harm in this respect. The first two games of this series, which were played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, also went to the Cavs with scores of 97:83 and 96:86 respectively.
The action then shifted to the east coast of the USA, where the Wagner brothers, in their inimitable style, led Orlando to a 121:83 and 112:89 victory.
Now it’s back to Ohio where, following that logic, it should soon be 3-2 in favor of the Cavaliers. I’m betting against it though.
Orlando has the advantage of being the team that clearly has the momentum on its side after back-to-back wins on Wednesday.
Through four games, the Magic have also outscored Cleveland by 30 points at the 3-point line, which is amazing considering Orlando’s poor reputation from distance and their poor performance in the first two games of this series.
Orlando hit just 17 of 72 three-point attempts in Cleveland, but in their two home games they’ve shot 35% or better in each.
The Cavs, on the other hand, have regressed massively, netting just 4 of 17 three-pointers on Saturday. In particular, Max Strus and Georges Niang, who were signed specifically for this purpose, have combined to make just four three-pointers in four games.
It goes without saying that this is not enough
Moritz Wagner, meanwhile, may be the source of annoyance for some Cavs fans, but it’s Mo’s younger brother who is the far bigger problem for Cleveland.
That’s because Franz Wagner scored a whopping 34 points Saturday, including 23 during the second half and 10 quick points during a third-quarter run in which Orlando regained the lead.
Mo is the bulkier of the two brothers, but Franz has more skill. At 6-foot-8, he can pass, dribble and score, as the Cavs have now learned during this series.
Incidentally, the younger Wagner is averaging 21.5 points per game during this series and, unlike the Cavaliers’ star, is “consistent.”
It’s the inconsistency of Donovan Mitchell on the other side that makes me think the Cavaliers’ superstar is coming off the bench at the worst possible time on Wednesday night.
Mitchell entered Game 4 against the Magic, scoring an outstanding 18 points in the first half. He played the opposing defense dizzy and forced seven free throw attempts in the first two periods.
After that? Mitchell finished the second half with zero points and a 0-of-4 shooting percentage, making it clear once again why many NBA experts are reluctant to mention him in the same breath as the sport’s greats.
Mitchell can do everything you need to do with the ball, but when things get serious, he often slows down.
Mitchell undoubtedly needs support from his teammates, but he also needs to do his part as the Cavaliers’ leader on Wednesday.
The Magic may defend him aggressively, but so did they when he made Orlando’s defense look pretty old in the first half of Game 4.
Regarding the Cavaliers Magic odds, however, you should keep in mind that the home side is clearly favored at an average of 1.53 to 2.55 among bookmakers.
That surprises me immensely, as the Magic have won the last two duels by a difference of 38 and 23 points!
Do the bookies know something we don’t? If not, then Orlando’s win odds are high-quality material for a possible value bet
Conclusion: Just because the action shifts back to Cleveland doesn’t mean the hosts will be able to build on their performances from the first two games of this series.
The Magic have improved dramatically in sunny Florida, where they were led to two very clear victories by an outstanding Franz Wagner.
If the Cavs again have problems making their three-point attempts and Donovan Mitchell goes down again in crunch time, it cannot be ruled out that Orlando will take the lead for the first time in these play-offs.
My Cavaliers Magic tip dispenses with the handicap and goes all in: Victory for the visitors
