Daily Picks 10/28: Magic Markelle
Orlando Magic @ Toronto Raptors (-4.5), 7:30 PM ET:
The Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors will square off in an Eastern Conference matchup on Monday night.
The visiting Magic will look to rebound after a loss.
Shooting guard Evan Fournier finished with a team-high 23 points and Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic in a 103-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks were led by second-year sensation Trae Young, who had 39 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals.
The Magic only shot 35.4 percent from the field, including 16.1 percent from three-point range.
The Raptors, on the other hand, will look to make it two wins in a row.
Power forward Pascal Siakam had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists and Fred VanVleet contributed 16 points, four rebounds and six assists for Toronto in a 108-84 win over the Chicago Bulls.
OG Anunoby added 17 points, six rebounds, four blocks and two assists and Serge Ibaka had 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Raptors.
The Raptors and Magic split four games last season and each team came away with a road victory.
Toronto eliminated the Magic in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season in five games. The Raptors have defeated the Magic in nine of their past 14 regular-season games.
I believe the Raptors are still trying to find their identity since superstar Kawhi Leonard left for the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason.
Clearly Toronto is trying to feature Siakam and VanVleet as the centerpieces of their team along with point guard Kyle Lowry.
I don’t necessarily believe the Raptors have the talent to get back to the NBA Finals, but I do think they have enough firepower to get back to the playoffs and make a decent run.
In this game, however, I think the Magic and the points on the road is the pick.
Almost 60 percent of the public money in this one is on the home team, which means I do believe Orlando will give the Raptors a game and even have an opportunity to come away with a win.
If you’re thinking about betting on this matchup, take the Magic on the road plus the points.
1u - Orlando Magic (+4.5) @ -105
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