Basketball bet features the two best teams in the Eastern Conference on Thursday as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Orlando Magic in a game that can be seen on TNT. The Magic have the tougher test in this basketball betting contest since they had to play last night at Chicago. Here is a look at this marquee matchup for Thursday night.
Basketball bet had the Cavaliers winning the first meeting between the teams this season 102-93 in Orlando. That was a rare victory for the Cavaliers in this basketball betting series since the Magic have won eight of the last 12 regular season matchups with the Cavaliers.
In the game at Orlando back in November, LeBron James scored 36 points, while Mo Williams added 28 points, as Cleveland won 102-93. Vince Carter led Orlando with 29 points, while Jameer Nelson added 19. That basketball bet victory for the Cavaliers was really a revenge game since Orlando eliminated Cleveland last year in the playoffs. Cleveland normally has all kinds of trouble in basketball betting against the Magic. In fact, they are 2-8 against the basketball bet odds in the last ten meetings against Orlando. Another basketball bet trend for this game involves the total as seven of the last eight have gone over the basketball betting total.
Orlando has been playing much better of late so this should be an excellent basketball bet game against Cleveland. The Magic have picked things up and they are now 5th in the league on defense. Their offense is still spotty, ranking 14th in the league but Vince Carter has shown flashes of his former self recently. If they get just get Rashad Lewis to be consistent then the Magic could really do some damage in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland has been the best team in the NBA this season. They have won 12 straight overall and if they defeat Orlando they would head into the All-Star break on a 13-game winning streak. The Cavaliers still have a losing record though against the basketball bet odds at home so that is a concern when Cleveland is laying points every game. The Cavaliers have moved up to 2nd in the league on defense and they are right at the Top 10 on offense. LeBron is averaging almost 30 points per game and is right with Carmelo Anthony for the NBA scoring lead.