NBA Picks & Predictions for Wednesday, March 23, 2011
By Anthony Rome
(The Spread) – The New York Knicks will try to get their act together when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, but will Melo and Co. struggle again?
Oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog.com have made the Magic 1.5-point road favorites over the Knicks tonight, while the over/under total is currently sitting at 204 points.
The Magic enter Wednesday’s game with a 45-26 overall record and a 20-15 road mark. They’re 30-40-1 against the spread this season, which includes a 13-21-1 ATS record on the road.
The Knicks come into tonight’s game with a 35-35 record and a 19-15 mark at home. According to latest NBA trends, they’re 40-28-2 against the number this season and 17-16-1 ATS at Madison Square Garden.
NBA Free Pick: The Knicks have lost six of seven and are now 7-9 since trading for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. It’s just not clicking for the new-look Knicks, which is ironic considering the Nuggets are currently firing on all cylinders. The Magic haven’t been the most consistent team this season but they’ve dominated this series of late, winning five straight and eight of the last nine. Orlando is also 4-1 against the spread in its last five meetings with the Knicks and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 trips to New York. With the point spread sitting at basically a pick’em, I really like the Magic tonight.
WEDNESDAY NBA FREE PICK: ORLANDO MAGIC –1.5