The 4-seed Cleveland Cavaliers hope to move closer to just the fifth playoff series win in franchise history without LeBron James when they host the fifth-seeded Orlando Magic in Game 2 of their 2024 Eastern Conference first-round matchup on Monday. Cleveland has won 21 of its 29 postseason series with James on the team but is just 4-14 without him, with its last such victory coming in 1993. The Cavs gained the upper hand in this 2024 NBA playoffs series by defeating Orlando 97-83 on Saturday. The Magic haven't won a postseason series since 2010 and have lost five straight playoff games, all by double digits.
Tip-off at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland is set for 7 p.m. ET. Cleveland is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Cavaliers vs. Magic odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 203.5. Before making any Magic vs. Cavaliers picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 90-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Magic and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Magic vs. Cavs:
- Cavaliers vs. Magic spread: Cleveland -5.5
- Cavaliers vs. Magic over/under: 203.5 points
- Cavaliers vs. Magic money line: Cleveland -222, Orlando +182
- CLE: The Cavaliers are 15-0 when holding opponents under 100 points in 2023-24
- ORL: The Magic are 1-12 all-time in Game 2s on the road and have lost nine straight
- Cavaliers vs. Magic picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Cleveland has been almost automatic when hosting Game 2 of a playoff series, going 16-1 overall and winning each of the last nine contests. The Cavaliers will be looking for another strong performance from Donovan Mitchell, who led all players with 30 points in Saturday's opener. It was the 21st career 30-point effort in the playoffs by the 27-year-old guard and his second with Cleveland, tying him with five others for third in the franchise list.
Center Jarrett Allen and forward Evan Mobley each recorded a double-double in Game 1, with the former registering 16 points and 18 rebounds while the latter had 16 and 11. The 26-year-old Allen, who was 6-for-10 from the field, joined Drew Gooden and current teammate Tristan Thompson as the only players in team history with at least 15 points, 15 boards and a 60% field-goal percentage in a postseason game. The rebound total was Allen's highest since he pulled down 20 on March 20 against Miami. See which team to pick here.
Why the Magic can cover
Orlando shot just 32.6% from the field in the series opener but had five players reach double figures in points. Forward Paolo Banchero, who led the Magic during the regular season with an average of 22.6 points, scored a team-high 24 in his playoff debut. The first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the 21-year-old also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists.
Franz Wagner scored 18 points and also had seven boards while blocking three shots. The 22-year-old forward has produced at least 14 points in each of his five meetings with the Cavaliers in 2023-24. Guard Jalen Suggs finished with 13 points while forward Jonathan Isaac and center Moe Wagner both had 10 points and five rebounds, with the latter doing so off the bench. See which team to pick here.
How to make Cavaliers vs. Magic picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 210 points. The model also says one side hits in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick and analysis at SportsLine.
So who Cavaliers vs. Magic, and which side hits in almost 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Magic vs. Cavaliers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,600 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
