Heat at Magic NBA Picks: The Miami Heat and Orlando Magic were rivals prior to the Heat's raising the stakes with their offseason free-agent spending spree. Then, in the first meeting between these two teams this season, the Heat stuffed the Magic. So Orlando will be out for revenge on Wednesday night when it hosts Miami at the new Amway Center in a Southeast Division battle (7:30 pm Eastern, ESPN). Orlando is listed as a 4 1/2-chalk favorite with a 186 total at Bodog.com and across the NBA board at most offshore sportsbooks.
With newcomers LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the fold, the Heat beat the Magic 96-70 back on October 29 in Miami. The Heat out-rebounded Orlando 51-40 and held the Magic to 30 percent shooting from the floor. But since that game the Heat are 6-5, and have lost two games in a row after falling meekly at home to Indiana on Monday night 93-77. And they're now playing without their leading rebounder, Udonis Haslem, who hurt his foot over the weekend and might be out for the season. In losing to the Pacers, the Heat failed to cover the 9-point spread as favorites, while the combined score of 170 fell UNDER the posted total.
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Orlando, meanwhile, is 8-3 since that loss to Miami, although the Magic lost at San Antonio on Monday 106-97. The Magic failed to cover in the match as a 3 1/2-point underdog, while 203 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.
Orlando leads the Southeast by a game and a half over the Heat and Atlanta in this early going. Veteran Magic guard Vince Carter is not expected to play versus the Heat today due to a sprained knee. J.J. Redict is expected to start in Carter's place.
Orlando is 9-2 SU overall and 6-2 at home and are 7-3 SU over their last 10 games. The Magic haven't been very dependable covering the betting spread this season going 4-9 ATS while the UNDER has been the best totals wager covering in seven of 13 games with one PUSH. The Magic are 4-4 ATS in eight games at home.
Miami, at 9-4 SU overall, are 2-3 SU on the road and are riding a two game losing streak. The Heat are 5-5 SU over their last 10 games. The Heat have gone 2-3 ATS while on the road while the UNDER has cashed in 3-of-4 games the Heat played while on the road.
NBA Picks: I like Orlando SU in this one but it will be close. Miami will cover +4 1/2 and the total will go UNDER the posted 186.
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