Game 3 Cavaliers vs Magic Prediction, Odds & Player Props (Apr. 25)

Apr 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives against Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) in the fourth quarter during game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

• The Cavaliers and Magic play Game 3 of their playoff series on Thursday night
• The odds favor Orlando to earn their first win in the series at home
• Read below for Cavs vs Magic prediction, odds and player props to target

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic face off in a pivotal Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando, with the game broadcast nationally on NBA TV and available to stream on Sling TV.

The Cavaliers enter with a commanding 2-0 series lead after winning the first two games in Cleveland by scores of 97-83 and 96-86. The Magic are slight 2-point favorites at home, with the over/under set at a low 199 total points.

Let’s delve into our Cavs vs Magic Game 3 prediction, as we break down the odds and player props.

Cavaliers vs Magic Game 3 Odds

In the Cavs vs Magic odds for Game 3, Orlando is a -145 favorite to win their first game of the series. This means their implied win probability is 59.2%.

Odds as of April 25, 2024, at BetMGM. Check out the available NBA betting apps for the playoffs.

Cavs Led by Mitchell

Cleveland has looked like the superior team so far, led by the stellar play of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. Through the first two games, Mitchell is averaging 26.5 points on an efficient 46.5% shooting, along with 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

This is a major bounce-back after Mitchell struggled mightily to close the regular season, averaging just 19.5 points on 40.4% shooting after the All-Star break as he battled injuries. The week off before the playoffs seems to have Mitchell back in elite form.

DONOVAN MITCHELL. 👀🗣️

pic.twitter.com/cX7aEh7Sh7

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 20, 2024

The Cavs have also gotten huge production from their twin-tower frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Allen has been a monster on the glass, pulling down 18 rebounds in Game 1 and an even more impressive 20 boards in Game 2. For the series, he’s averaging 16.0 points, 19.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Mobley has chipped in 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game himself. The Cavs’ length and athleticism up front has given the Magic fits.

Magic Nedd More from Depth Players

On the Orlando side, Rookie of the Year favorite Paolo Banchero is doing all he can to keep the Magic competitive. The versatile forward leads the team with 22.5 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game in the series. However, he’s also struggled with turnovers, committing 15 through two games as he faces constant defensive pressure from the Cavs.

Banchero’s running mate Franz Wagner has also played well, averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds. But the Magic just haven’t gotten enough production from their role players. As a team, they are shooting a dreadful 23.6% (17-72) from three-point range in the series.

Franz Wagner hits the triple to cut the lead to single digits! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/e9Yan2EaYK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 20, 2024

Guards Gary Harris, Jalen Suggs and Terrence Ross need to start knocking down open looks for the Magic to have a chance.

The good news for Orlando is that they now return home, where they posted an impressive 29-12 record in the regular season. The Magic had the 5th-best home winning percentage in the entire NBA.

Their offensive rating and defensive rating both improved significantly at the Kia Center compared to on the road. Role players tend to shoot better and play with more confidence at home, especially in the playoffs.

Cavs vs Magic Player Props

Check back for player prop bets closer to game time.

Cavs vs Magic Game 3 Prediction

While the venue is changing, it’s hard to pick against the Cavaliers right now with how well they are playing. Teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-7 series by winning the first two games on the road go on to win the series over 95% of the time historically.

The Cavs’ defense has been suffocating, holding the Magic below 90 points in both games. Cleveland’s length, versatility and ability to switch everything makes them an elite defensive unit.

The Cavs also have a massive edge in playoff experience, with Mitchell and Allen having deep postseason runs under their belts. This is the first taste of playoff basketball for the young Magic core of Banchero, Wagner and Suggs. That’s a lot to overcome, even at home.

While I expect the Magic to play with desperation and put forth their best effort, I still like the Cavaliers to get the win and cover the short spread on Thursday night. Cleveland is the better, more experienced team and has had Orlando’s number all season.

CLE vs ORL Pick:

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