The first round playoff series between the Pacers and Magic heads into an all-important Game 3 tonight as the two squads square off at the Amway Center in Orlando. This evening’s contest is scheduled for a 7:30pm ET tip on NBATV. The latest NBA Odds have Indiana listed as a -3 against the spread road favorite and the Over/Under set at 183.5 points.
The odds makers expected the Pacers to jump out to a quick start against the Dwight Howard-less Magic, but Orlando had something else in mind when the two teams collided in a Game 1 battle at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Magic, a 9.5 road dog in the series opener, stole the contest 81-77 on the strength of a great defensive effort.
Indiana shot just 34.5 percent from the field in the loss and only three Pacers (David West, Danny Granger, George Hill) reached double figures in scoring. Orlando did not shoot the lights out either (39.5 percent), but the offensive contributions of Glen Davis, who posted a 16 point, 13 rebound double-double, Jameer Nelson, and Jason Richardson, proved enough to get the team over the hump.
Fortunately for the Pacers, they did not let their dismal Game 1 showing carry over to Game 2. Indiana dropped the Magic 93-78 on Monday night to even the series at a game apiece. West, Granger, and Hill again carried the offensive load with each scoring 18 points, but Paul George and reserve guard Leandro Barbosa also cracked double figures, tallying 17 and 10 points respectively.
The Magic got another double-double from Davis, who finished with 18 points and 10 boards, but no other Orlando player scored more than 13 points in the double digit loss.
Orlando has dominated Indiana of late, winning nine of its last 11 games opposite the Pacers; however, most of those victories came with Dwight Howard on the floor. Frank Vogel’s squad has also evened the score a bit of late by taking two of the last five meetings between the two Eastern Conference rivals.
NBA Odds Betting Trend: The Pacers are 7-3 both straight up and against the spread in their last 10 games as a road favorite with a total between 180 and 185.
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2012 NBA Playoff Odds Indiana Pacers vs Orlando Magic Game 3: Provided by TopBet.com
Indiana Pacers -3 (-110), Over 183.5 (-110), -155 (Moneyline)
Orlando Magic +3 (-110), Under 183.5 (-110), +135 (Moneyline)
