Magic vs. Pistons Sportsbook.com NBA Playoff Pick

[Qbins Missile Crisis]

NBA: Any Magic left for Orlando?

With the dominance of home teams so far in the NBA playoffs, it would only make sense that the Detroit Pistons close out the Orlando Magic tonight in Detroit in Game 5 of their second round playoff series.

This is the only of the four series that’s not tied 2-2, and 72% of bettors think its over after this one.

Shortly after going down 3-1 in the second round, Orlando's point guard Jameer Nelson said the Magic would go on the road and beat Detroit to extend the series.

"What am I supposed to do? Guarantee a loss?" Nelson asked Monday. "We've got to win the game. We have the confidence that we can do it. - I believe it."

Detroit may be without Chauncey Billups for tonight’s game. Billups is being treated for a strained hamstring and is being evaluated today. If Billups sits out for a second game in a row, coach Flip Saunders insisted it will have nothing to do with having a cushion in the series.

Detroit has been pretty tough to beat when it has a chance to advance. The Pistons are 14-3 following a third victory in a series since 2003, with nearly as impressive 11-4-2 ATS record, when they started a streak of advancing to at least the Eastern Conference finals.

As defending champions, they lost to San Antonio in Game 7 of the 2005 NBA Finals and dropped two games after going ahead 3-1 in the second round last year against the Chicago Bulls.

If Detroit avoids a collapse against the Magic, it will be the first franchise to play in six straight conference championships since the Los Angeles Lakers did it from 1984-89. During that time, the Lakers won three titles. The Pistons are shooting for their second during their current stretch. Detroit is 13-3 ATS as a home favorite in last 16 contests.

The Pistons have been beating Orlando in part because Dwight Howard's production has dipped. Howard is averaging 15.5 points on 51 percent shooting, 12.5 rebounds and three blocks against Detroit.

He scored 22.6 points on 64 percent shooting, grabbed 18.2 rebounds and blocked nearly four shots a game in the first round when he became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to have a trio of 20-point, 20-rebound games in a series.

Howard scored just eight points in Detroit's 90-89 comeback win at Orlando on Saturday. That output matched the career playoff low he set when the Pistons swept the Magic in the first round last season.

Howard has remained upbeat about his game and the Magic's chances of coming back despite his struggles, adding everyone should be saying what Nelson said.

"It's not going to happen unless we believe it," Howard said. "Our mind-set is to go up there and come back with a win."

Detroit has not always been great at defending the Magic’s three-point shots but, by and large they have done a good job when needed. The Pistons are up to 34-13 ATS versus teams who make six or more three-point shots game on the season and 13-3 ATS at home in the second part of the year.

Detroit is a six-point favorite at Sportsbook.com with a Total of 186.5. The Pistons have been spread winners five straight times when the oddsmakers choice in the 5-10 point range. Having frequently run into Billups and Hamilton in the postseason, Orlando is 3-8 ATS as playoff underdogs.

You can watch the game on TNT beginning at 7 pm ET.

StatFox Take – Detroit by 3