The Magic seemed to have unlocked the offense a bit and now they are going home to the Magic kingdom. I see a possibility where they get some FTs late and that we may be inflating the return of JAllen.

This is a massive combination line for Paolo Banchero who is coming off his best game of his short playoff career,in game 5 where he finished with 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 14/24 shooting. While Paolo was undoubtedly spectacular this line feels like an overreaction considering Paolo averages 36 PRA in the series. Also I believe you can partrly attribute the massive game to Cavs Center Jarrett Allen being inactive, which forced Evan Mobley to move to Center and left a combination of inferior defenders to guard Paolo. Allen appears likely to play today and this is just a huge number in what projects to be a slow, low scoring environment, between two very good defenses.

Banchero has struggled v Cleveland. They have defenders that limit him enough that I’ll go under

Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen is listed as questionable tonight. The Cavaliers are 8-15 SU as away underdogs, losing by an average of 7.48 points and have lost their last seven as dogs as well. They’ve lost down games in Orlando by 30.5 points while also doing under their team total in both contests. The Magic are 21-6 ATS as home favorites this season. This is a zig-zag theory type of series with home court meaning everything.

The light bulb is coming on for this kid, who has superstar potential. He is 30_ in 2 of the last 3 and the one he didn't go over the Magic won in an easy blowout, he didn't even play 30 mins and didn't have to get to the basket much. Love him taking 8 foul shots with regularity and taking 24+ shots as he has been and he's shooting 45% or better from the field in all but one game this series. No Jarett Allen - most likely - to swat away shots or protect when he wants to dribble drive, and at home with season on the line, no time for the best player on the home team to be passive.

The young Magic might have lost the battle in Game 5 at Cleveland but they well could have won the war, finally staying competitive in a road playoff game, the next step in the maturation process of an emerging contender. Orlando has already proven it can bop the Cavs at Kia Center, where the Magic romped in Games 2 and 3, and is now 31-12 as a host. Paolo Banchero certainly seems ready for the moment after scoring 39 on the road in Game 5, and Cleveland will again be minus C Jarrett Allen and his defensive presence in the middle. Note the Cavs have only broken 100 points once in this series, that in the 104-103 win on Tuesday night. Play Magic

The Magic's length has become an issue for the Cavs, with six Orlando players standing 6-10 or taller. That's especially true if Jarrett Allen (17.0 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 1.3 spg this series) sits out again Friday due to his rib contusion. He did not practice Thursday after missing Tuesday's one-point Cleveland win, the Magic's third straight cover. Orlando has won six straight home games (5-1 ATS) and sits 31-12 at Kia Center.

The home-court advantage in this series has meant everything and I expect it to be more of the same Fri night. This has been a series of home blowouts and with the Cavs without Jarrett Allen in all likelihood, their advantage in the paint and on the boards shrinks. Banchero is showing signs of going to the next level and the erratic Wagners have been good at home. Magic cashed for us at home all season and are 29-13 ATS there for the season and 21-6 as a home favorite. They have won 5 of last 6 at home, covering those spreads by: 20.5, 35, 19, 8 and 17 points.

Not sure I would have played Cavs moneyline in Game 5 had I known Jarrett Allen was out as he has been Cleveland's best player in the series. That rib injury came out of nowhere and considering Allen didn't practice Thursday, he's probably out Friday. The Cavs can afford to rest him one more game with a potential Game 7 at home in their back pocket. Orlando won both at home in this series by 20 points each and that was with Allen playing very well in both.