Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Orlando (-1)
Game Total Line: (NL)
(wagering lines available at Betonline.com)

Eastern Conference contenders collide when Derrick Rose and his Chicago Bulls stop in Orlando to run with Dwight Howard and the Magic Friday night (8 pm Eastern, ESPN).

As of early Friday morning online sportsbooks are listing Orlando as a one-point favorite for this game, but they're holding off on posting an over/under.

Chicago opened this season with a win over the Lakers and a loss at Golden State, and has since won five games in a row. Wednesday night the Bulls won in Detroit 99-83, shooting 53 percent from the floor in the process.

So Chicago, at 6-1, leads the Central Division by a game and a half over second-place Indiana.

The Magic, meanwhile, lost their season opener to Oklahoma City, then won four in a row before losing at Detroit. Then Wednesday night Orlando whooped Washington 103-85, shooting eight-for-19 from 3-point range and winning the battle on the boards 54-44.

So the Magic, at 5-2, sit in second place in the Southeast Division, a game and a half back of first-place Miami.

In the something's-got-to-give department Chicago is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS on the road this season, while Orlando is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS at home.

Statistically speaking both these teams are shooting 45 percent from the floor this season, and both are holding opponents to 42 percent shooting. But while the Bulls are shooting 74 percent from the free-throw line, the Magic are hitting at just 66 percent from the stripe.

On the injury front Chicago's Rose banged his elbow late in Wednesday's game, but he is expected to play Friday night.

This is the first meeting this season between these two teams. Last season the Bulls took three of four games from the Magic. Those four games averaged 186 points. Chicago shot a cumulative 46 percent from the field in those four games, Orlando 44 percent. And the Bulls outrebounded the Magic by a 41-37 per-game margin.

Chicago is 3-4 on the over/unders so far this season, as Bulls games have averaged 184 points.

Orlando is 1-6 on the totals, as Magic games have also averaged 184 points.

Point Spread Pick

Both teams are hot, but we like the home side here.
Take the Orlando -1 at SIA and grab a free $125 to bet on NBA games!!