The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to visit the Orlando Magic on Friday night for Game 6 of their NBA First Round Series. Cleveland comes into this series with a 3-2 lead in the series, and the home team has won every game.
The Cavaliers have been able to hold serve at home in this series, but they have been an absolute mess on the road in Orlando. Cleveland wants to wrap up this series as quickly as possible, but they have been blown out in two previous games on the road.
If the Orlando Magic are going to find a way to win this series then they must first take care of business in Game 6. The Magic have put on a show in two previous games at home, and they will have a huge home crowd rooting for them in this matchup.
Orlando is a 3.5-point betting favorite in this matchup, and the over/under line is set at 199.5 total points.
Cavaliers Want to Defend
The Cleveland Cavaliers are holding the Orlando Magic to less than 100 points per game in their home games in this series. That has not been the case on the road as the Cavs really struggled to get stops in Orlando.
This Cavaliers team will be able to protect the paint in this game, but the perimeter defenders are going to need to step up. Cleveland will also need to make shots in Game 6 as that wasn’t the case in Games 3 or 4.
Donovan Mitchell is leading the Cavaliers with 22.4 points per game so far in this series, and Cleveland needs him to set the tone on offense.
Magic Looking to Score
The Orlando Magic are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and young teams are always looking to win games on offense. Orlando is scoring just 101 points per game in this series, but that total is much higher at home.
Paolo Banchero has emerged as a true superstar this season, and he is leading the team with 24.8 points per game. Franz Wagner is another player having success on offense, and the Magic will be in attack mode in Game 6.
The Magic have been able to use the home crowd to help them get stops in this series, and that will need to be the case if Orlando is able to keep their season alive.
Magic Keep Season Alive
This has been a series that has been dominated by home teams, and there is reason to believe that the trend will continue in this game. Orlando nearly ended that streak in Game 5, and that should give them some momentum and confidence in this game.
The Cavaliers are a team that wants to set the tone on defense, but they will have a tough time slowing down the Magic in this matchup. Look for Banchero to have another huge game for the Magic as he will take control.
Bet the Orlando Magic -3.5 as they will keep their season alive by forcing a Game 7 this weekend.
