It’s not quite Super Bowl odds, but a matchup between Orlando and Atlanta in the NBA on Saturday should be very intriguing. Before Friday’s games, the two were tied at the top of the Southeast Division, and the Magic are coming off a big win.
Hawks vs Magic odds – Saturday, January 30, 7:00 PM ET
The Hawks will face a Boston team on Friday, and the Celtics will be angry after losing a late lead in Orlando on Friday night, so they should pose a pretty tough test to Atlanta, who are 5-5 in the second half of back-to-back games this season. If the Hawks are going to break their current five-game skid against the Magic, they’ll need more scoring, as Joe Johnson leads the way with only 14.5 points in two meetings with Orlando this season. The Hawks are averaging 78.5 points as a team against the Magic, and we’re betting management would like to see more baskets.
The Magic were down by 16 at home to Boston on Thursday, but never stop fighting, and Rashard Lewis laid the ball in with 1.3 seconds left in a 96-94 victory. This could be a huge win for the Magic, who haven’t played up to expectations lately, and they could have given up, but they showed a lot of heart. Lewis in particular has been struggling, but he led the team with 23 on Thursday. Dwight Howard has dominated the Hawks in their two meetings, putting up 17.5 points, 12.0 boards and 3.5 blocks.
The Magic should be favored by US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook reviews) at Amway Arena on Saturday, as they had the day off on Friday, while the Hawks will probably be playing a tough game against the Celtics. The Hawks are also just 11-10 on the road, and have lost seven of their last 10 in Orlando. The win over the Celtics could be what the Magic needed to spark their season, and look to Howard to be a factor as the Hawks don’t have much size inside, and he’s been very good from the free-throw line lately. Also, the flight might not be that long, but Atlanta still has to travel to Orlando after Friday’s game, and those couple of hours could cost them late against the Magic.
Best online sportsbook pick: Orlando
