Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic Game 3 odds, picks and predictions

Kevin Erickson | Staff Writer

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic meet in Game 3 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference 1st-round series on Thursday. Tip-off at Kia Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Cavaliers vs. Magic odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: Cavaliers lead 2-0

The Cavaliers won and covered a pair of low-scoring games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland to open the series, covering both games as a 5.5-point favorite as the Under cashed in each outing.

Cleveland posted a 96-86 win in Game 2, covering from early in the 2nd quarter through the end of the game. The Cavaliers led 58-44 at halftime, but we ended up with just 80 combined points in the 2nd half for the easy Under (205) result.

The Cavs had 6 different players strike for at least one 3-pointer, led by Darius Garland with 4 successful makes on 7 tries. Donovan Mitchell led the team with 23 points, while Jarrett Allen went for 16 points and amazing 20 rebounds with 3 blocked shots and 2 steals.

Cleveland has won 8 of the past 10 meetings since Oct. 26, 2022, and the Cavaliers are an impressive 7-2-1 against the spread (ATS) in that span. The Under has cashed in both of the playoff games, while the total has gone low at a 6-4 pace in that 10-game span.

Cavaliers at Magic odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:36 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Magic -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
Against the spread: Cavaliers +1.5 (-105) | Magic -1.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 198.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Cavaliers at Magic key injuries

Cavaliers

G Craig Porter Jr. (ankle) out

Magic

G Jalen Suggs (knee) probable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Cavaliers at Magic picks and predictions

Prediction

Magic 104, Cavaliers 98

Moneyline

The Magic (-130) are looking to make a series of it, as things shift to Central Florida. Orlando needs the victory in Game 3, or it will be out of the series. It doesn't make sense to back Orlando on the moneyline, however, as it's better to back the Magic laying the little bit of points instead.

PASS.

Against the spread

The MAGIC -1.5 (-115) are worth playing, as all they need to do is win by a bucket to get the job done. Orlando won its final 4 games at home, while covering in 3 of those outings.

The teams split each of the games at Kia Center this season, with the Magic posting a 104-94 victory last Dec. 11 as a 2.5-point favorite. Expect Paolo Banchero and the Magic to get the job done.

Over/Under

OVER 198.5 (-110) is worth playing lightly despite the fact we have seen a pair of Under results in this season, with the highest point total coming from the Cavaliers in Game 1 with just 97 points.

Cleveland cashed the Over at a 9-3 pace in the final 12 regular-season games, including 5-2 in the final 7 road contests.

Orlando saw the total go high in 5 of the final 7 games of the regular season, although the Under was a perfect 7-for-7 in the final 7 home outings.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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