Superman in MSG – Magic at Knicks

BetOnline NBA Basketball Betting Odds: ORLANDO -2.5, Total 217.5

Here are some of the NBA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* ORL has won 15 of its last 22 games SU

* ORL has won 17 of its last 25 road games SU

* ORL has lost four of its last six road games SU

* NY has covered 12 of its last 17 games

* NY has lost seven of its last ten games

* NY has played 11 of its last 12 games OVER the total

* NY has won and covered eight of its last 11 home games

* NY has played its last seven home games OVER the total

Also…

* ORL has won and covered four of the last five meetings

* Four of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total

* ORL has covered five of the last seven meetings as the road team

* ORL has had the shooting edge in each of the last five meetings

* ORL has made more three-pointers in four of the last five meetings

The big injury news in Orlando is that Jameer Nelson is out for the season with a shoulder injury. That means things at the point have fallen into the hands of Rafer Alston, who has dished out 22 assists with nine turnovers in his three games thus far at the helm. Alston is a veteran guard, who won’t be counted on to do a lot of outside shooting, but this is a better alternative than someone with much less experience than Alston’s ten years in the NBA.

The Knicks have been making personnel changes, but they have not been dictated by injuries. Instead, Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni have been trying to build a supporting cast for whoever the Knicks are going to sign in the free agent spree next summer (they hope it’s LeBron James), and trying to grab the Eastern Conference’s eighth playoff spot at the same time. Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford have been dealt away, along with Tim Thomas and Jerome James, and Al Harrington, who was brought on board, is among the NBA’s scoring leaders. Nate Robinson, the league’s slam dunk champ, had 41 points in Monday’s 123-119 win over Indiana.

Chris Wilcox, a pretty capable offensive player, has been added in a trade with Oklahoma City, and although he has played a total of 21 minutes in two games, he is expected to be integrated more into the rotation. The same goes for Larry Hughes who comes to New York with some baggage, in the opinion of many, but who can score, pass and play defense (one appearance on the NBA’s All-Defensive team).

New York is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 home games, and you don’t want to underestimate what the Knicks can do. Orlando, however, has been one of the league’s best road teams for a couple of seasons now, and they are 18-9-1 against the number as the visitor. D’Antoni has no choice but to get Wilcox and Hughes more involved, and that will take some adjustment. Defense might suffer. Orlando is coming off a very disappointing 120-102 loss in Chicago last night, and this team isn’t 41-15 because it can’t bounce back. We consider Alston a positive, and he’ll be inspired playing in his hometown tonight. The number is reasonable, and we’re laying it with the Magic, the 2.5-point favorite in the NBA pro basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: ORLANDO -2.5 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay makes his share of shots from the top of the key as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)