Something strange happened in Game 1 of the Magic-Pistons series that no one saw coming: Orlando looked like a totally different team.
After being embarrassed by the 76ers in the first Play-In game and by the backup Celtics squad to close the regular season, Orlando dominated Detroit in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs on the road.
We’re left to find out whether those results are for real, as the Pistons are 8.5-point favorites for Wednesday’s Game 2 in Detroit.
History is on the Pistons’ side.
Since 2005, home teams that lose Game 1 as favorites of six or more (Pistons were -8.5 in Game 1) are 38-8 straight up in Game 2 and win by an average of 13 points per game.
Those favorites also cover at 61 percent (28-18 against the spread (ATS)).
Orlando has gotten substantially healthier coming into the playoffs, with Franz Wagner and Anthony Black appearing to play much better basketball lately.
The Magic got their win and maybe caught the Pistons off guard a bit in the first game, but there isn’t much else to really get excited about here.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has not led one of the better units on offense, as his team was rated No. 19 overall in the NBA over its past 15 games in net offensive rating.
Detroit isn’t an elite offensive unit either, coming in at No. 10 overall in that same time span.
The Pistons are also No. 3 overall in net defensive rating over their past 15 games, while the Magic are still a paltry No. 17.
Neither team is overly exciting, to be clear, and the total of 218.5 is an intriguing wager to the Under. The total opened at 214.5, and there’s been a massive shift as high as 219.5, so some sharps expect offense.
Betting on the NBA?
The Pistons went Under in 22 of 41 home games during the regular season, and the Magic, oddly enough, have the same figure on the road.
On Wednesday, we’re targeting the Under despite betting action in the opposite direction, and we’ll also poke a bet on the Pistons -8.5.
THE PLAYS: Pistons -8.5 (-110, FanDuel) | Under 218.5 total points (-110, BetMGM)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.