Magic vs. Cavaliers Prediction and Odds for November 1: Will the Cavs Stay Undefeated

The Orlando Magic will pay a visit to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Playoffs matchup.

The Magic will be without Paolo Banchero, who was diagnosed with a torn oblique on Thursday. The 21-year-old already scored 50 points in a game and averaged 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists to start the year.

Meanwhile, no team in the NBA has a better record than the 5-0 Cavs. Kenny Atkinson picked up from where J.B. Bickerstaff left off and has the team playing excellent offense and scoring more points per game than every team not named the Boston Celtics.

Here, we will review the odds and share our favorite betting picks for the Magic vs. Cavaliers matchup.

Magic vs. Cavaliers Betting Odds for Friday, November 1

The Magic were the best team against the spread last year. They’re only 2-3 ATS thus far, including being 1-1 ATS as an underdog and 1-2 ATS on the road.

The Cavs are 5-0 against the spread and covered by an average of 12.7 points per game. They’re also 4-0 ATS as the favorite and 2-0 ATS at home.

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Magic vs. Cavaliers Prediction

Orlando Magic Preview

The Magic surprised the league with their outstanding defense and rebounding ability in a successful 2023-24 campaign, during which they spent most of the year hovering around the fourth seed in the East.

It’s early, but Banchero appeared to have taken a leap and looked ready to enter the discussion as one of the 10 best players in the league. His loss will greatly impact their floor and ceiling, as well as their style of play.

While the Magic are only 3-2, they rank seventh in net rating (+4.8). Their offense hasn’t been anything special, but they posted the fourth-best defensive rating in the league.

With Banchero out of the lineup, pressure is going to fall onto the shoulders of Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Wagner averaged 25 points during the first three games of the season but plummeted to seven over his last two outings. On the plus side, he shot 51.6 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three, both of which would be career bests.

Suggs, a second-team All-Defense member a year ago, is also off to a great start, averaging a career-high 16.8 points per game to go with 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 42.5 percent three-point shooting. He also averaged 2.2 steals per game and held opponents to 38.9 percent shooting as the nearest defender.

If Orlando is going to properly make up for Banchero’s absence, it’s going to need to create more margins within the game. They could come from improved three-point shooting, as they’re only 17th at 34.6 percent, rebounding (eighth in rebound rate), or more care of the basketball (14th in turnover rate).

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Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

The Cavs spent different stretches of last year longing for health and continuity, two things they were rarely granted. They had a stretch where they won 18 of 20 games but never truly ascended into “contender” status.

Less than two weeks into the new season, it seems as if the Cavs may have finally had their number called. The team is 5-0 with four double-digit wins and just smacked the Los Angeles Lakers by 24 points (134-110).

The Cavs have the best offensive rating in the NBA, even coming in 0.3 points per 100 possessions ahead of the Celtics. They’re also third in defensive rating with a number that would’ve ranked first last year.

There are several reasons for the Cavs’ offensive dominance. One of them is three-point shooting, which they’ve done better than every team in the league thus far, having made 41.1 of their attempts. 

They also have four players (Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland) averaging at least 17.8 points per night. Of those four, Mobley has had arguably the most impressive start as he looks more comfortable and assertive attacking the basket.

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Magic vs. Cavaliers Betting Pick

• Magic vs. Cavaliers pick: Magic +7.5 (-105) at BetMGM

Orlando has the defensive mindset to play teams close all year, even if they are not as good as their opponent. That said, they’re missing their best player, and Wagner has been a model of inconsistency.

The Cavs are playing excellent basketball and are thriving under their new coach. The question with them is if they can continue shooting the ball at an elite level from deep, or if there will be regression to the mean.

While it would be a surprise to see the Magic win, this is a spot where they have a strong chance to cover a large line against a team that is bound to cool off eventually.

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How to Watch Magic vs. Cavaliers on 11/1/24

• When: Friday, Nov. 1 @ 7:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

• TV: ESPN

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