CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS. ORLANDO MAGIC – 10/23/2019 FREE PICK & NBA BETTING PREDICTION

Wednesday, October 23 finds Eastern Conference rivals the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic facing each other in their opening match of the 2019-20 season.

Last season, the squads played three times with the Magic winning two of three contests. The Cavaliers hold the all-time record having bested the Magic 57 of their 109 matches.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland began the 2.0 version of LeBron-less Cavs losing 63 games. The focus remained on the future emphasizing obtaining and developing young assets.

To that end, this summer Cleveland drafted Darius Garland to pair with last season’s draftee Collin Sexton. Despite the duo possessing oddly similar game styles, the Cavaliers are hopeful they can be the backcourt combo of the future.

Kevin Love returns as the top star on the club stating he’s happy to be in the Land, which typically signifies a trade is on the horizon. Love’s four-year extension begins this season to the tune of $120 million.

With that much money on the table hopefully Love can appear in more than the 22 games he did last season.

Garland (meniscus recovery) is probable, Matthew Dellavedova (thumb) is questionable and John Henson (groin) is doubtful. Both Ante Zizic (plantar fasciitis) and Dylan Windler (left tibial stress reaction) are out until mid-November.

Orlando Magic

After a six-year absence, the Magic returned to the playoffs but drew the short straw facing the eventual 2019 NBA Champion Raptors. Toronto’s Head Coach, Nick Nurse credited the Magic as part of the reason why they won later rounds.

Nurse called the Magic the most difficult first-round opponent in the East and cited their grittiness, coaching prowess and the team’s two-way effort.

The Magic brain trust of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond spent the offseason focused on bringing back the core to build upon their success.

Weltman witnessed first hand how constancy benefitted the Raptors and hopes to emulate their success. Terrence Ross was re-signed to a four-year $54 million deal while Nikola Vucevic re-signed with a four-year, $100 million deal.

While understandable Vucevic was prioritized it also points to the horde of frontcourt players the Magic currently has on the roster. This includes Aaron Gordon, Johnathan Isaac, Mo Bamba, and Khem Birch plus free agent signee Al-Farouq Aminu.

This wealth of frontcourt depth may point to an eventual trade coming of either Bamba or Gordon.

Evan Fournier is probable despite battling back spasms. Chuma Okeke is out for the season rehabbing a torn ACL.

NBA Betting Trends:

Magic are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
Cavaliers are 6-4 in last 10 head to head contests.
Over Under is 3-6-1 in team’s last 10 head to head matchups.
Total has gone over in 5 of Cavalier’s last 7 October games.

Free Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic NBA Prediction:

The Cavaliers are integrating first-year coach John Beilein. Although preseason has to be taken with a grain of salt the Cavs only broke the 100 point barrier once in three tries including a 40 plus point blowout at the hands of the Celtics.

His counterpart Steve Clifford is adept on both sides of the court and will have his team focused to start the season with a statement win.

4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Magic -8

Orlando Magic starts the season off with a bang easily covering the spread.

NBA Free Prediction: Magic 108 – Cavaliers 95

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