Orlando (24-32) at Brooklyn (26-29)
When: Monday, February 24th, 2020
Where: Barclays Center,
Brooklyn, NY
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: FS Florida
Opening Odds: Brooklyn -2.5/211
The Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets are in a battle for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and the reward of not having to play the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. The teams will meet for the second time this season on Monday night in Brooklyn. The Magic trail the seventh-seeded Nets by 2.5 games and are three games clear of ninth-place Washington entering Sunday’s action. Orlando entered the All-Star Break with two straight wins, but came out with a 122-106 setback at home to the Dallas Mavericks after shooting just 9-of-43 from beyond the arc. The Nets meanwhile, are on a bit of a roll since star guard Kyrie Irving went out of the lineup. They are 8-12 with Irving (shoulder) in the lineup this season but improved to 18-17 without him with Saturday’s 115-86 rout of the Charlotte Hornets – their third win in four games overall. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led eight players in double figures with a season-high 21 points against the Hornets as Brooklyn posted its third win of at least 22 points since Irving left the lineup for good earlier this month. Irving was not in the lineup on Jan. 6 when the Nets were blownout 101-89 in Orlando as the Magic had seven players score in double-figures.
Point guard Markelle Fultz has been on a roll lately, scoring above his 11.9 average in five straight games along with handing out 27 assists against just two turnovers in this last three contests. Evan Fournier led the way with 28 points including 5-of-12 from 3-point range in the loss to the Mavericks, but the rest of the team couldn’t find the bottom of the hoop. Nikola Vucevic finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double, but made was 1-for-7 from beyond the arc for the second straight game. Orlando will be at the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
The Nets have played twice since the break already and blew a 20-point lead in an overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, but were able to rebound with the win over Charlotte two nights later. Shooting guard Caris LeVert had 17 points and six steals Saturday and is averaging 23.1 points over his last seven games. Luwawu-Cabarrot was one of three reserves to score 12 or more points as he led the bench with 21, while center DeAndre Jordan made all five of his shots in a 12-point effort. Veteran Garrett Temple recorded his first double-double in his 563-game career with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Nets will start a four-game road trip on Wednesday in Washington.
The Magic are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall and the home team has won eight of 10 in this series. I don’t know what it is about teams playing better without Kyrie Irving, but the Nets are proving that right now and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Monday. He is 63-51-3 on the season after a 4-0 run!
Pick: Nets -3
Magic are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
Magic are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Monday games.
Magic are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Magic are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Magic are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Magic are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.
Magic are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Magic are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Nets are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Nets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Nets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Nets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Nets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 5-1-1 in Magic last 7 overall.
Over is 5-1-1 in Magic last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-2-1 in Magic last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 7-2-1 in Magic last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 22-7-2 in Magic last 31 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 3-1-1 in Magic last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 3-1-1 in Magic last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Magic last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Magic last 5 games as a road underdog.
Under is 8-3 in Magic last 11 Monday games.
Under is 11-5 in Magic last 16 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 4-0 in Nets last 4 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-0 in Nets last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 7-2 in Nets last 9 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 6-2 in Nets last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Nets last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Nets last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Nets last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Nets last 7 Monday games.
