NBA Expert Picks – Howard, Magic, To Make Hornets Disappear?

Hornets vs. Magic (-9.5)
(O/U) 193.5
February 8, 8:00 PM ET

New Orleans Hornets (27-24 SU, 24-27 ATS, 25-25-1 O/U)

Orlando Magic (34-17 SU, 26-24-1 ATS, 21-30 O/U)

The New Orleans Hornets may have snapped a three-game SU and ATS losing streak the last time out, but they will be hard-pressed to extend their winning ways when they visit the red-hot Orlando Magic at Amway Arena tonight.

Before I break down tonight’s matchup, let’s take a look at the key head-to-head trends surrounding tonight’s matchup.

• Hornets are 5-1-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Orlando.
• Home team is 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
• Underdog is 8-2-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
• Under is 5- 1 in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 4- 1 in the last 5 meetings in Orlando.

New Orleans 411

• Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games.
• Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Southeast.
• Hornets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. win.

The Hornets scored a whopping 36 points in the third quarter to hand the Charlotte Bobcats a surprising 104-99 loss on Saturday and cash in for pro basketball betting backers as 8.5-point road underdogs.

Rookie point guard Darren Collison led the Hornets with 22 points while David West added 21 points in the win.

The Hornets are 11-16 SU and 14-13 ATS on the road this season and 8-12 against Eastern Conference opponents while averaging 99.9 and 103.1 points per game.

Orlando 411

• Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Magic are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
• Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.

The Orlando Magic scored 19 straight points while outscoring Boston 36- 11 in the third period to win going away, 96-89 on Sunday. Orlando provided a payday for backers as a 3.5-point road underdog to move to 4-1 ATS over its last five games.

Veteran shooting guard Vince Carter score 20 points for Orlando and Dwight Howard added a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds in the win.

The Magic are 19-5 SU and 13-11 ATS at home this season and 10-7 against Western Conference opponents while averaging 103.5 and allowing 93.3 points per contest.

Analysis: Orlando and New Orleans split two meetings last season with the Magic routing the Hornets 88-68 at home on Dec. 25, 2008.

The Magic have recorded a stellar 19-5 SU mark at home this season, going 6-1 SU in their last seven home games. New Orleans Hornets hasn’t been very good on the road this season, going just 11-16 SU on the road.

Orlando should be in a great mood after beating the Celtics on national television on Sunday in a game in which Vince Carter got back to looking like the offensive player he’s always been after struggling during the entire month of January.

New Orleans has gotten some fine performances from rookie point guard Darren Collison who has started in place of injured all-star Chris Paul for the last five games, but make no mistake about it, as good as Collison is, he’s not in the same class of floor leaders as Paul.