NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic Game 4 Odds Preview
Can Magic Keep Momentum From Game 3 Going?
If there was any doubt that the Orlando Magic would put up a fight in their first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024 NBA playoffs, that question was put to bed in Game 3 as the Magic obliterated the Cavaliers 121-83 to cut their series deficit to 2-1.
Now, Game 4 is suddenly a lot more interesting, with Orlando having a bit more juice and believing in themselves. The Cavaliers vs. Magic betting odds even have Orlando as -130 moneyline favorites in Saturday afternoon’s Game 4, with Cleveland as +110 underdogs.
After Orlando scored 83 and 86 points, respectively, in Games 1 and 2, the Magic were on top of their offensive game on Thursday night. They scored 61 first-half points and put the game out of reach with a 35-16 third quarter.
Orlando shot over 50% from the field behind huge games from Paolo Banchero (31 points, 14 rebounds and five assists) and Jalen Suggs (24 points on 9-of-11 shooting) and held Cleveland to 39% shooting and under 24% from three.
It was a good reminder of how close the Cavaliers and Magic were in the NBA East standings despite how lopsided the first two games of the series were.
It’s never easy for teams to sweep any series, regardless of the matchups. That has certainly been true in the East because all eight teams on that side of the bracket have gotten at least one win.
Also, it’s not like the Cavaliers looked especially impressive in their first two wins. Cleveland didn’t play particularly well on offense and, instead, mainly won because of solid defense, with the Magic really struggling to put the ball in the basket.
Cavaliers vs Magic 
Day/Time:
Records: Cavaliers (2-1)/Magic (1-2)
Location: Kia Center; Orlando, Florida
Streaming: TNT
Expect Bouncebacks From Cleveland’s Backcourt
If the Cavaliers only get 18 total points from Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, Game 4 might be as much of a cakewalk for the Magic as Game 3 was. Neither of them could get going on Thursday, as it was just one of those games.
Those guys are just too good to be that ineffective and inefficient again —a combined 8-for-26—and it’s not uncommon in a long series for one or two games to just be clunkers because that’s how basketball works.
In that regard, the Cavaliers vs Magic betting odds might be overreacting a bit to how bad Cleveland was in the last game. The Cavaliers are still the better NBA team and the Magic got unusually good perimeter shooting from Banchero, Suggs and Jonathan Isaac.
It would be shocking if Garland and Mitchell don’t bounce back tomorrow, and Cleveland needs them to because they’re the engines of the Cavaliers’ offense.
Cleveland only goes as far as those guys will bring them, and while Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert — and even Max Strus — can provide scoring but, they can’t do enough to lead the Cavaliers to a playoff win.
The NBA playoffs schedule usually provides two full days in between games, but, in a quirk, Cleveland and Orlando will only go between Thursday night and Saturday afternoon before hitting the court again.
That probably benefits the Cavaliers who can’t wait to get back out there after such a disappointing performance in Game 3.
Fultz and Anthony Are Key
An underrated component of the Magic’s team-wide domination of the Cavaliers on Thursday was the contributions they got from guys who didn’t do much in Games 1 and 2.
Specifically, Markelle Fultz (11 points and a +21 rating) and Cole Anthony (10 points, three assists, and a +16 rating) gave Orlando a big boost off the bench after not playing particularly well earlier in the series.
Their success is reflected in the Cavaliers vs Magic betting odds, which give Orlando a much better chance of winning after the Game 3 romp.
While neither Fultz nor Anthony will be expected to play heavy minutes or will be relied upon to shoulder the scoring load for the Magic, they’re two athletic guards who can break down a defense and get Orlando easy buckets.
That’s what Jamahl Mosley’s team needs to get a lot of those points so it doesn’t have to take 37 threes again. Orlando doesn’t have the shooters to win NBA games depending on three-point makes, which is why paint points are vital.
Also, the Cavaliers play the best when they can go big in the frontcourt and protect the rim with Allen and Mobley. Fultz and Anthony can try to take advantage of the minutes when those guys are on the bench, and Cleveland goes small, turning to Tristan Thompson, Marcus Morris, and Georges Niang.
Orlando’s NBA championship odds are still minuscule and the Magic need to get through Cleveland first, obviously, but their chances look a lot better when they can get depth scoring from guys like Fultz and Anthony.
Banchero, Suggs and Franz Wagner will get their points yet they aren’t collectively dynamic enough to carry the Magic outright without help from the bench.
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