Brooklyn Nets vs Orlando Magic 03/15/2022 NBA Odds and Preview

The Brooklyn Nets travel to the Magic Kingdom to take on the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Brooklyn has won three straight games to improve to 35-33 SU on the season. The Nets are currently in sole possession of 8th place in the Eastern Conference team standings. They are 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the 7th seed in the East and are also just one game ahead of 9th seeded Atlanta so this is a crucial game for them. The Nets are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played but have won their last three.

Orlando has the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 18-51 SU. The Magic are also the worst home team in the East at 8-24 SU. They are however 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played although Orlando is coming off a tough 116-114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Magic are already out of playoff contention and are merely going through the motions here and waiting for another terrible season.

Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn won its third straight game the last time out when they defeated the New York Knicks 110-107 at home. With Kyrie out, Kevin Durant exploded for 53 points for the Nets as he helped keep the stubborn Knicks at bay. Andre Drummond also had a big game with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Bruce Brown added 15 points. Nic Claxton also scored 10 points off the Brooklyn bench.

The Nets are 11th in the league in scoring at 111.3 points per game this season. Brooklyn is 20th in rebounding at 44.1 boards grabbed per contest, and 11th in passing at 25.0 assists per game. The Nets are tied for 20th in scoring defense at 111.7 points per game allowed.

Orlando Magic

Orlando lost a close one to the mighty Philadelphia 76ers the last time, 116-114 in overtime. Wendell Carter Jr. had a big game with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Cole Anthony added 19 points and 8 rebounds for Orlando. Jalen Suggs had 10 points and 8 assists and Chuma Okeke added 13 off the bench.

The Magic are third from the bottom in scoring at only 104.2 points per game this season. Orlando is 21st in rebounding at 44.1 boards grabbed per contest and 21st in passing 23.4 assists per game. The Magic are tied for 20th in scoring defense at 111.7 points per game allowed.

Who Wins?

Brooklyn is 6-14 SU in their last 20 games played. The Nets are 21-15 SU in 26 road games played this season, but 1-4 SU in their last five games against the Southeast division. Orlando is 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played The Magic are 3-4 SU in their last seven games played at home, and 6-14 SU in their last 20 games against the Eastern Conference.

The Magic are one of the worst teams in the league this season. Although they have found rebuilding chips in Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, the team still lacks more talent to be able to compete for a playoff spot. Right now, the Magic are just trying to finish the season and competing while doing so.

On the other hand, the Nets are trying to book a playoff spot. Although they have struggled badly in their last 20 games played, the Nets have Kevin Durant back and he is coming off a 53 point explosion. This game will be played in Orlando meaning Kyrie Irving will be available to play for Brooklyn. The Nets still don’t have Ben Simmons yet but with KD and Kyrie set to play in this game, the Nets should have more than they need to beat this young and inexperienced Orlando team.

I expect the Magic to give it a good fight but in the end, the combination of Durant and Irving will be too much for this young roster. And don’t forget, the Nets are better on the road than at home this season. Give me the Nets to win on the road.

Prediction: Brooklyn Nets

Other Bets to Make

The Nets are 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. Brooklyn is 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games played on the road, 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine games when playing on one day rest, 3-1-1 ATS in their last five road games against an opponent with a losing home record, 21-9 ATS in their last 30 Tuesday games, and 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games against an opponent with a home winning percentage of less than .400.

The Magic are 4-0 ATS in their last four games played. Orlando is 5-0 ATS in their last five games after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game, 4-0 ATS in their last four games when allowing more than 100 points in their previous game, 4-0 ATS in their last four games after a straight up loss, 4-0 ATS in their last four games as betting underdogs, 5-1 ATS in their last six games against an opponent with a winning straight up record, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games when playing on one day rest, and 4-1 ATS in their last six home games.

Head to head, the Magic are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games played against the Nets.

The Nets are the worst ATS team in the NBA this season at 26-40-2 ATS or just a 39.4% cover rate. Brooklyn was a 5-point favorite against the Knicks and won by only three points. The Nets have outscored the Magic by an average of only 5.1 points per game in their last 10 head-to-head meetings.

Make no mistake, the Nets are playing well right now and look to be in a position to finish strong. But all Steve Nash wants right now is that straight up win. And with Kevin Durant still feeling his way back, there will be hiccups along the way, just like what we saw against the Knicks.

I don’t think it will be a question of whether the Nets will win this game but if they want to blow the Magic out or just coast to a win and keep their key players healthy. Sure, their wins over the Hornets and Sixers were by double digits but the Nets haven’t been that consistently blowing out their opponents this season. The Nets are looking at a deep playoff run and given the health issues of their key players, they’d rather coast than give it all out in just one win.

The Magic haven’t been solid at home against the spread as they are only 12-20 ATS. However, their average margin of defeat is only 8.1 points per game and they have an ATS plus/minus of -1.9. Give me the Nets to win but I don’t trust them to cover the spread.

Prediction: Magic +9.5

The total has gone over in 11 out of the last 16 games played by the Nets. The over is 11-4 in their last 15 games against the Eastern Conference, 6-1-1 in their last eight games after an ATS loss, 6-2 in their last eight games against an opponent with a losing home record, 7-3 when their opponent allows 100 or more points in their previous game, 7-3 in their last 10 games when scoring 100 or more points in their previous game, 7-3-1 in their last 10 games when playing on one day rest, and 6-2-1 in their last nine road games.

The total has gone under in five out of the last six games played by the Nets. The under is 4-0 in their last four games after a straight up loss, 5-1 in their last six games as underdogs, 4-1 in their last five games after allowing 100 or more points in their previous game, 8-2 in their last 10 Tuesday games, and 5-2 after scoring 100 points in their previous game.

However, the over is 17-5 in Orlando’s last 22 when playing on one day rest, 8-3 in their last 11 games against an opponent with a winning straight up record, 7-2 in their last nine games against an opponent with a winning road record.

The Magic rank 10th in pace this season and with their young guns, they love to play a fast-tempo game. Brooklyn doesn’t play as fast overall but with Kyrie Irving playing in this road game, the Nets should run at a faster pace.

Kevin Durant is coming off a 53-point game and Irving is having a hot streak since the All-Star break. The Nets defense is ranked in the bottom 10 of the league which means they will have to depend on their scorers to win this game on offense. The Magic are also in the bottom 10 in scoring defense and although they don’t have the offense to hang around with the Nets, Brooklyn’s poor defense will allow them to keep it close. I’ll take the over.

Prediction: Over 231