A six-game Thursday slate is highlighted by the Cavaliers heading to Orlando, while Denver hosts Houston in what could be a first-round Western Conference playoff preview.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic
There were serious concerns around the Magic prior to the All Star break, but they may have turned things around.
Orlando has won six of its last eight games, including victories over the Lakers and Timberwolves, as it pushes to break into the top six in the Eastern Conference.
As for the Cavaliers, the James Harden acquisition has paid immediate dividends and they now look like a lock for a top-four seed in the East. With this game played in Orlando, can the Magic claim another big scalp?
LEG 1 - Paolo Banchero 20+ Points
The Magic’s recent form has coincided with a strong scoring run from Paolo Banchero.
Banchero is averaging 26.2 points per game since the All Star break and has cleared 20+ points in seven of those ten games.
He has already faced Cleveland twice this season and impressed both times, scoring 27 points on January 24 and then 37 just two days later.
LEG 2 - Wendell Carter Jr 6+ Rebounds
Wendell Carter Jr had a quiet rebounding night last game against Milwaukee, pulling down just five boards, but that performance has pushed his line slightly lower here.
Across his last 14 games Carter has averaged 8.4 rebounds per game and had cleared 6+ rebounds in 13 straight contests prior to the Bucks matchup.
He grabbed seven rebounds the last time he faced Cleveland and with Jarrett Allen unavailable, rebounding opportunities should be a little easier to come by.
LEG 3 - Jevon Carter Under 8.5 Points
Jevon Carter has carved out a useful role for Orlando after bouncing around the end of several benches in recent seasons.
However, he is averaging just 5.6 points across his last eight games and has only cleared this line twice in that stretch, one of which came against the Wizards.
Anthony Black being unavailable may help Carter’s minutes, but Cleveland’s defense is not an easy matchup for secondary scorers.
Same Game Multi
Paulo Banchero 20+ Points / Wendell Carter Jr 6+ Rebounds / Jevon Carter Under 8.5 Points = $3.75
VALUE BET - Tristan Da Silva 6+ Rebounds @ $3.10
Tristan Da Silva is enjoying a solid stretch for the Magic after moving into the starting lineup with Anthony Black and Franz Wagner both sidelined.
Da Silva is averaging 5.9 rebounds across the nine games since the All Star break where he has played 20 minutes or more, clearing 6+ rebounds in six of those games including the last two.
The key trend is his production without Black and Wagner. In the three games he has played without both this season he has averaged seven rebounds and cleared 6+ boards in each outing, largely thanks to the increased minutes.
