NBA Expert Picks – Melo’s Nuggets Host Howard’s Magic in Game of the Night

NBA Expert Picks – Orlando Magic vs. Denver Nuggets

Magic vs. Nuggets (-5)
(O/U) 210.5
Wednesday, January 13 – 9:00 PM ET

Head-to-Head Trends

• Under is 4- 0 in the last 4 meetings.
• Home team is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
• Favorite is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
• Magic are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Denver.

Two of the top title contenders in the league will square off in what promises to be a thrilling prime time matchup when the Denver Nuggets (24-14 SU, 17-20-1 ATS, 16-22 O/U) host the Orlando Magic (26-12 SU, 20-18 ATS, 18-20 O/U) at the Pepsi Center tonight at 9 PM ET.

Orlando 411

The Magic have won two straight games including a 109-88 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, covering the NBA point spread as a 4-point road favorite and move to 5-5 SU and ATS over the last 10 games. Orlando is ranked 10th in offense, averaging 101.7 points per game and are 12-8 on the road this season and 9-3 against Western Conference opponents. The Magic are averaging 99.0 points per game on the road while allowing 96.8 points per game on defense.

Denver 411

The Nuggets have won three of its last four games, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-94 on Monday night but failed to cover the NBA moneyline as 13.5-point home favorites to fall to 3-6-1 ATS over its last 10 games.

Denver is ranked 3rd in scoring, averaging 106.8 points per game and have gone a fantastic 16-3 at home this season and 11-6 against Eastern Conference opponents. The Nuggets are averaging 112.7 points per game at home and holding teams to 102.9 points per contest on defense.

Analysis: These two teams are so evenly matched that they have spilt the last 10 games evenly. Despite playing on the road tonight, I like the Orlando Magic to cover the NBA point spread as they have gone an impressive 12-8 on the road and are just too good of an offensive team to lose this game by six points to a Nuggets team that isn’t firing on all cylinders after just getting back Carmelo Anthony one game ago from an absence to injury.

Denver has gone an unimpressive 1-4 ATS in their last five home games while Orlando has gone a consistent 4-1 ATS in their last five games against Western Conference opponents and 8-3 ATS as an underdog of 10 points or less.

I also really like the Under in this matchup as both teams have played Under their set O/U totals in three consecutive games while also playing Under the spread in each of their last four meetings, including two straight with the O/U set at 209.5 points.

NBA Expert Picks: Under 210.5 Total Points/Magic +5 Points