Cavs-Magic: Starters, betting info, injuries and TV channel for Tuesday

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been up-and-down in recent weeks, and injuries have had some to do with that, and they’re still a young team.

Last week, the Cavaliers went 2-3, which wasn’t outstanding, but it wasn’t the worst outcome in the world, particularly with the team having a five-game slate in the second-last week of the regular season.

The Cavs had victories over the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks on Monday and Saturday, but had letdowns against the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday and Thursday, and lost a close one to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

All in all, though, it wasn’t all that awful last week, as Cleveland currently is still in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference, and should have two chances, if needed, in the play-in tournament. It’s tough to say how the Cavs will do in the play-in, should they be in that, but worst-case, they’d still have their first-round pick if they don’t make the postseason, as their first sent to the Indiana Pacers via trade was lottery-protected.

Anyway, looking at Tuesday’s next game for Cleveland, they face the Magic on the road, and will go for the season sweep.

The Cavs are set to face the Magic on the road on Tuesday night. So what do you need to know, and how to bet this one?

Heading into this next Cavaliers game, they’ll be facing another team that’s had a bunch of injuries this season in the Magic, and it’s unclear if Franz Wagner and perhaps Cole Anthony will even play here. Wendell Carter Jr. is out, and if Wagner is out, possibly without those two key young pieces for Orlando, I’d expect Cleveland to handle business by at least a couple of possessions.

As for the Magic in general, they have had injuries pile up of late, such as with Carter himself, and Jalen Suggs, and partly due to that sort of thing, and other injuries, it’s been tough for the Magic for some extended periods at times on offense. They’ve lost seven of nine games.

That said, Orlando’s defense has been pretty impressive post-All-Star, which shows growth, and the Magic are sixth in the league in defensive rating among teams in the past nine games. So I could foresee this being relatively close still for much of it.

Cavs-Magic: Betting info

According to our partners at WynnBet, the Cavaliers are favored here by 8.5 points over the Magic. The over/under total for both squads is set to be 217.0 points.

The over/under for Cleveland is set to be 113.5. For Orlando, that’s 104.5.

Cavaliers-Magic: Projected starters and injury report

Magic starters: Cole Anthony/Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton, Ignas Brazdeikis/Franz Wagner, Chuma Ukeke, Mohamed Bamba

Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, Lauri Markkanen, Moses Brown

Magic injuries: Wendell Carter Jr. (out, wrist); Jonathan Isaac (out for season, knee, hamstring); Bol Bol (out for season, foot); Franz Wagner (questionable, ankle); Cole Anthony (questionable, toe); Jalen Suggs (questionable, ankle); Admiral Schofield (questionable, knee).

Cavs injuries: Jarrett Allen (out, finger); Evan Mobley (out, ankle); Dean Wade (out for season, knee); Collin Sexton (out for season, knee);

Cavaliers-Magic: Prediction

These two squads played each other last Monday, with Cleveland escaping with a win in a close contest. Kevin Love’s 19 points off the bench were crucial there, and late shots for the Cavs down the stretch eventually got the job done.

However, in this one, while Mobley and Allen are not involved yet, but both seem close to returning, the Magic this time being Carter is noteworthy in itself.

With that, in particular, it could make things easier for Markkanen, and is one less key defender near the basket. Carter is of course one of Orlando’s best offensive plays, and from my perspective, that could also allow the Cavs to get out and run more.

Overall, while I could foresee this being fairly close for much of the contest still, with the Cavaliers themselves having some ups and downs, and with them prone to some miscommunications lately defensively, I think they could eventually pull away.

The bench guys could get into the act here, also, such as Love again, and Lamar Stevens, and with Garland and LeVert in a nice groove, I’ll say the Cavaliers win this. And they’ll cover; I’m going with the under, though.

Prediction: Cavs 111, Magic 101

The Bet: Cavs (-8.5), UNDER

Cavs-Magic: Where to watch

For those it applies to in-market and subscribed, this one will be on Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Florida.

For fans not with those options and/or out of market, NBA League Pass will have this one, for those subscribed.

Cavs upcoming schedule:

Following this last meeting with the Magic for the Cavaliers of this season, Cleveland will take on the Brooklyn Nets on the road on Friday night, who they could potentially play in the play-in tournament. The Cavaliers will hopefully have Evan Mobley back then and/or Jarrett Allen.

After that one, the Cavs will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon, in what’s the last regular season game of the season for both. I could foresee the Bucks maybe resting a number of key players in that one, but the Cavs themselves could still be looking to secure the best play-in seed possible, I’d imagine.