I'm aware of the series history here, but if history were all we ever had to go by this wouldn't be that hard. I just cannot justify taking Charlotte on the road, where they're 8-20, while Orlando is a .500 team at home. GIVEN the history AND the fact that it's the last game (and at home) before the break you have to like Orlando's motivation. I love the fact that Tony Parker is doubtful for Charlotte, and really behind Kemba Walker the Hornets don't have a good #2 scoring option. We've been backing teams that can play defense, and the Magic, surprisingly, have the 8th best PPG defense. Orlando is just playing really well, having won five of six, and three straight road games, which is tough for almost any NBA team to do. This is Charlotte's fourth straight road game, and if it weren't the last game before the break I might feel differently, but to have a home team with the better defense, who's winning right now, essentially just to win the game is a bet I have to make. With that good Magic defense having to really only stop Walker, is just an added bonus.

02/14/2019 4:50 AM