The sleeper team this NBA playoff wagering season is without a doubt the Orlando Magic. With only win away from returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995, the Magic are poised to make their backers very happy.
 
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals is set for tonight at 8:35 PM EST and can be viewed on live on TNT. The Orlando Magic will try and take out the Cleveland Cavaliers after another thrilling 116-114 overtime win on Tuesday. Dwight Howard scored 27 points, 10 in overtime, to lead the Magic past LeBron James and the Cavaliers. "We’re up 3-1, but we can’t relax," Orlando’s Rashard Lewis said, "Anything can happen. We got to go to Cleveland looking to try and close these guys out." The Magic have already proven they can win on the road in the playoffs as they eliminated the Celtics in Game 7 in the last round and they nearly took both of the first two games in Cleveland in this series. SBG Global Sportsbook reports that the early NBA betting action has the public taking Orlando on the road as a +7.5 underdog with a 190 total.

The Cavaliers are likely to be very inspired to extend the series on Thursday. Cleveland had the best home record in the NBA this season and it is unlikely that LeBron James will go quietly. He is averaging 42.3 points, 7.3 rebound and 7.3 assists in the series. "I’m up for the challenge," James said. "And I think my play, my leadership has spoke for that. So I will be ready, and I think our guys will be ready also."

The Magic are well aware that this series if far from over. "This thing is a long, long, long way from over, just like the games in this series have been," Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy said, "When you’ve got a guy as great as him on the other side, you’re a long way from done."

History is on Orlando’s side though. A total of 190 teams have taken a 3-1 series lead and only eight of them have lost. The other main problem for Cleveland is that they simply don’t matchup well with Orlando. The Magic have won 10 of the past 14 games against Cleveland.

Take a look at NBA wagering stats for Thursday’s game. The Magic are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog. The Magic are 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are 14-4-1 ATS in their last 19 playoff games as a favorite. The Cavaliers are 36-16 ATS in their last 52 games as a home favorite. The Under is 23-11 in Orlando’s last 34 overall. The Over is 6-1 in the Cavaliers last 7 Conference Finals games. The Under is 14-6-1 in the Cavaliers last 21 games as a home favorite. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

The Los Angeles Lakers were thought to be a serious contender to win the NBA Championship this season. With their recent play against the Houston Rockets, not many people are thinking that way anymore. The undermanned Rockets have forced the Lakers into a Game 7 on Sunday, a situation that the Lakers should not be in. The Lakers are so inconsistent and unenthusiastic that no one can figure them out. SBG Global reports that early NBA wagering has the public taking the Lakers at home as a -12 1/2 favorite with a 195 total.

Sunday’s game should be another big win for the Lakers but with this team you never can tell. "For a team that wants to be champs, they are bouncing us around. It’s painful," The Lakers’ Sasha Vujacic said. "Like inside, outside, they were doing what we were supposed to do."

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In this series whichever team wins the first quarter wins the game. In Game 4 in Houston, the Lakers fell down by 17 points and said they would never let that happen again but in Game 6 on Thursday they fell behind 17-1. "Really tough to watch," said Jordan Farmar, "They did a good job, man. They started off with a lot of energy, being really aggressive and that’s how you have to be in these kinds of games. Up 3-2, down 3-2, you have to be aggressive. They just hit us in the mouth early. Once we were dazed, they kept throwing."

The Lakers head home now for a Game 7 they shouldn’t have to play. "Home court of course is big," Lamar Odom said. "And right now in this series, playing well in the first quarter is even bigger. You can’t give up (17-1) leads. Not on the road. It just can’t happen.”

Wager on the Rockets vs Lakers at SBGGlobal.com!

Here are the sports wagering odds stats for Sunday’s game. The Rockets are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 2 days of rest. The Rockets are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles. The Lakers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 2 days of rest. The Under is 8-2 in the Rockets last 10 overall. The Under is 5-2 in the Rockets last 7 playoff games as an underdog. The Under is 7-2 in the Lakers last 9 overall. The Under is 11-5 in the Lakers last 16 games as a home favorite.