Posted on
1/11/2008 2:28:57 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Orlando at Denver
By Charles Jay
WHO: Orlando Magic (23-14 SU, 24-13 ATS) at Denver Nuggets (21-13 SU, 16-16 ATS)
WHERE: Pepsi Center in Denver
WHEN: Friday, January 11, 9 PM ET
BetUS NBA betting odds: DENVER -4.5, Total: 218.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* ORL has won 16 of the last 20 meetings SU
* ORL is 12-5-1 ATS in the last 18 meetings
* Four of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total
* DEN has won and covered four of the last five meetings as the home team
* Four of the last five meetings in Denver have gone OVER the total
* ORL has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings
Orlando has averaged 103.6 points per game this season, surrendering 100.3. The Magic has made 8.9 three-point shots per game, which is second in the entire NBA. But they are weak at the free throw line, converting on only 72% of their attempts. Also:
* ORL has covered one of its last five games
* ORL has played six of its last nine games OVER the total
* ORL is 17-5 ATS on the road this season
* ORL is 16-6 SU on the road this season
* ORL has played 13 of its 22 road games OVER the total
Denver is fourth in the league in scoring, with 106.8 points per game. And the Nuggets are leading the NBA in rebounding at home, with an average of 47.5 a contest. Denver is not as dependent on long-range shooting as the Magic, averaging 6.1 baskets from beyond the arc. Also:
* DEN has won six of its last eight games SU
* DEN has covered five of its last seven games
* DEN has covered three of its last nine home games
* DEN has won four of its last five home games SU
This represents an interesting match between titanic rebounder/shot-blockers in the middle, as Marcus Camby of Denver faces off against Orlando's Dwight Howard. Camby's Nuggets had covered five of their last six games until they ran into a whirlwind called the Phoenix Suns, who scored 46 points in the first quarter en route to a 137-115 pummeling. That was the fourth game in five nights for the Nuggets, a period that began with them allowing only 77 points to San Antonio in a home win on January 3.
The Nuggets have had three days rest at this point, which might mean a better defensive effort. And Allen Iverson supplies plenty of offensive punch, averaging 33 points over the last four games on 52% shooting. However, if there is one thing in this matchup that should be respected most of all, it's that Orlando has been consistently strong on the road. In fact, more so than anyone else in the NBA. Orlando's 113-106 win at the Staples Center over the Clippers on Wednesday marked its 17th cover in 22 games away from home, and the Magic has own 16 of those games. With Denver not on an especially hot streak at the Pepsi Center (covering three of the last nine), the Magic is worth more than a look.
Because we're really not interested in trying to guess when the Magic will suddenly get cold as a traveler, we'll grab the points with Orlando, the 4.5-point underdog in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: ORLANDO
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)