A six-game Thursday slate is highlighted by the Cavaliers heading to Orlando, while Denver hosts Houston in what could be a first-round Western Conference playoff preview.<\/p>\n
There were serious concerns around the Magic prior to the All Star break, but they may have turned things around.<\/p>\n
Orlando has won six of its last eight games, including victories over the Lakers and Timberwolves, as it pushes to break into the top six in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
As for the Cavaliers, the James Harden acquisition has paid immediate dividends and they now look like a lock for a top-four seed in the East. With this game played in Orlando, can the Magic claim another big scalp?<\/p>\n
The Magic\u2019s recent form has coincided with a strong scoring run from Paolo Banchero.<\/p>\n
Banchero is averaging 26.2 points per game since the All Star break and has cleared 20+ points in seven of those ten games.<\/p>\n
He has already faced Cleveland twice this season and impressed both times, scoring 27 points on January 24 and then 37 just two days later.<\/p>\n
Wendell Carter Jr had a quiet rebounding night last game against Milwaukee, pulling down just five boards, but that performance has pushed his line slightly lower here.<\/p>\n
Across his last 14 games Carter has averaged 8.4 rebounds per game and had cleared 6+ rebounds in 13 straight contests prior to the Bucks matchup.<\/p>\n
He grabbed seven rebounds the last time he faced Cleveland and with Jarrett Allen unavailable, rebounding opportunities should be a little easier to come by.<\/p>\n
Jevon Carter has carved out a useful role for Orlando after bouncing around the end of several benches in recent seasons.<\/p>\n
However, he is averaging just 5.6 points across his last eight games and has only cleared this line twice in that stretch, one of which came against the Wizards.<\/p>\n
Anthony Black being unavailable may help Carter\u2019s minutes, but Cleveland\u2019s defense is not an easy matchup for secondary scorers.<\/p>\n