For the passive NBA fan, it may shock you to learn that the Orlando Magic are 5th in the Eastern Conference. A win against the the Raptors on Sunday will keep them neck and neck with the New York Knicks

Crazy, right? I mention that to my colleagues that follow the league and they have to do a double take and check their phones. Paulo, Franz and company have been seriously slept on this year as they have aspirations with more than just a play-in tournament birth.

When my co-host Jesse and I were targeting teams at the beginning of the year to follow and cover, we landed on the Magic. Not just because the weather in Orlando is phenomenal, but their young core really excited us and they were the team (along with the Pacers) that had such a young promising core and were headed on an exciting trajectory.

It’s like picking a cheap stock that sky-rockets, or a steal on the waiver wire in fantasy basketball, kind of like Jalen Suggs.

Toronto Raptors’ broadcaster Jack Armstrong talks about improved play from RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and the Orlando Magic.

It has been quite the season the Magic have put together under coach Mosley, who was just secured a 4 year extension. Even though he hasn’t won a playoff game yet, he’s molded this gritty, defensive minded squad and ownership has taken note and reinvested in coach’s future with the team.

That’s just it, do not sleep on this Magic squad, which is what it’s felt like teams have been doing this season, until it’s too late and Orlando just kept your team to under 100 points. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty work to be done, especially not he offensive side of the ball. The Magic rank 23rd in offensive rating and 26th in points per game. But their defence is what wins them games as they rank 4th in the league.

Heading into Sunday’s matchup on St. Paddy’s in the O, the Magic host the struggling Toronto Raptors, who’s season has been one to forget. Orlando won Friday’s matchup in Toronto on Friday as they held the Raptors to 103 points. Mind you, the Raptors very banged up and have very few healthy players. The Raptors have gone through so many changes and injuries this year, that earlier this week in Denver, rookie Gradey Dick was the longest tenured Raptor to play in the loss against the Nuggets.

Regardless, as reporters and as a network, this game is a huge milestone, as it will be the first time covering the Toronto Raptors as credentialed members of the media. That being said, the Down By Two crew is hopeful that this hobbled Raptors squad can make some adjustments from their Friday loss and cover the large 12.5 point spread, much like they did against a healthy Denver squad earlier this week.

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Raptors +12.5

We find this spread to be just too much. I’ve referenced the Denver Nuggets game earlier this week where the spread was set at +16.5, which is just to much. The reason why we took the Raptors on the spread with that game is because coach Malone of the Nuggets had never seen this Raptors lineup and combination of players and sure enough, it was a tight game up until the end. The Raptors actually led by double digits for the majority of the game until they eventually collapsed and had massive laps on defence.

Mind you, the Magic just saw this Raps squad two days ago where they won by 10 and covered the -6.5 spread (which we picked). Expect coach Darko to make some adjustments and close the game on 12 points. Do we still think the Magic will win? Absolutely, perhaps by 12 points, but we believe the Raptors will cover.

Raptors Over 102.5 Points

Sure, the Raptors have a tonne of injuries, but it’s a next man up mentality, players like Gradey Dick, Bruce Brown and Jontay Porter have had extended runs with the available minutes and have made the most of it. Toronto has scored over 102 points in their last 5 games, so injuries or not, this should continue to be a trend.

Under 219.5 Total Points

If the Raptors are to cover the spread and hit their total points, that should mean they’ve held the Magic to a lower amount of points. The Magic average 110.7 points per game and we don’t necessarily see them blowing the doors off the Raps on Sunday.