NBA Free Pick – Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat

After Orlando thoroughly dismantled the San Antonio Spurs, they’re getting an awkwardly tight line against a Miami Heat team which was handled by that very opponent.

Miami must get back to winning games if it hopes to cling to a playoff spot in the competitive Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, beating Orlando has never been a solid NBA bet for the Heat.

The biggest mismatch for Miami in this game is Rashard Lewis, but spotty play has plagued the inconsistent shooting forward recently.

With a points-per-game average of just 9.4 in his last 5 games, Lewis is the surprising weak link on a Magic roster that has gone 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in the last two weeks of NBA betting.

Lewis has yet to play against the Heat this season, but last year he averaged 19.25 points in four games against the Heat including two efforts of 21-points in Miami.

While Lewis slumps with the absence of Hedo Turkoglu, Vince Carter is thriving in his place. Carter has averaged a modest 20.2 points per game in his last five efforts.

Orlando is also 11-4-1 ATS when playing Miami and have won 7 of the last 10 meetings straight up. This is certainly a game that has a curious basketball betting spread.

Orlando Magic (47-21) vs. Miami Heat (35-33)

Thursday, March 18th
American Airlines Arena --- 7:00pm EST

NBA Betting line: Orlando -3 (187.5)

Part of the reason for the low point spread is that Miami is 6-1 SU in their past 7 games at home, and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home stands.

While Wade continues to bolster his value in free agency this summer with 28.4 points per game recently, his teammates are lagging behind in production.

That hasn’t curtailed the winning ways of Miami, which is 6-2 SU in their last 8 games overall. Not a bad record for a team that has massive holes in the front court that it can’t seem to properly patch up.

Miami may get a boost considering they’ll have two days of rest, while Orlando will be coming right off a home stand against the aforementioned Spurs.

While Miami has been playing very well at home, they simply don’t have an answer for one guy – Dwight Howard. I expect Howard to run roughshod over the Heat after playing in just 24-minutes against the Spurs.

The Heat may be playoff bound if they keep up their winning ways, but the Magic have a knack for sending messages to the bottom feeders of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Orlando’s attack is just too strong for even Dwyane Wade to overcome.

Furious Free Pick: Orlando -3 (UNDER) >> JOIN TO BET <<