Nover’s View: Pistons-Magic Free Thursday Play

On December 28, 2017, in Free Picks, NBA, by Stephen

Magic plus 4 1/2 hosting Pistons

I understand it’s tough to get behind the Orlando Magic, losers of nine in a row. The Magic’s losing skid began when Aaron Gordon went out with an injury.

But there’s a good chance Gordon returns for this matchup. Orlando does have back Evan Fournier from an ankle injury. Gordon and Fournier are Orlando’s two leading scorers averaging 18 points a game. Rookie power forward Jonathan Isaac also has returned to the rotation from an ankle injury. He’s one Orlando’s better defensive players.

Detroit has injury problems of its own. Underrated guard Avery Bradley is questionable and point guard Reggie Jackson is out with a serious ankle sprain. That means extended minutes at the point for journeymen Ish Smith and Langston Galloway. Detroit went 11-10 last season when Smith operated the point during Jackson’s absence.

The Pistons are a mediocre team especialy without Jackson. Mediocre teams shouldn’t be laying mid-size points on the road. The Pistons are at their worst, too, in this type of road situation covering just 32 percent of the time the past 59 times they’ve played a foe with a losing home mark. The Pistons are 3-10-1 ATS the last 14 times facing an opponent with a winning percentage below .400.

These two teams just met 11 days ago and the Pistons won 114-110 at home. Jackson scored 17 points in that game, while neither Fournier nor Gordon played. Now Jackson is out, Fournier is in and Gordon may play, too.

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