Two teams juggling for Eastern Conference playoff positioning meet for the final time this regular season on Sunday evening as the Orlando Magic visit the Toronto Raptors, who are 2.5-point favourites on the NBA odds with a total of 224.5.

Magic vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

How will the Eastern Conference playoff field shake out? The top three are likely to be Detroit, Boston and New York, with the Celtics and Knicks jockeying for that second seed. Cleveland seems fairly locked into fourth. But the rest is largely a jumbled mess and that’s through the 10th spot, the last for the Play-In Tournament.

Toronto sits fifth in the East but only a game ahead of Philadelphia as of writing. Orlando is ninth but has no concerns about slipping out of the post-season field altogether as it is double-digit games ahead of the 11th-place team.

One key playoff tiebreaker is head-to-head record, and tonight’s winner will take the season series. The Raptors took the first at home, 107-106 on Dec. 29, and lost in Orlando by 10 on Jan. 30. Brandon Ingram is averaging 26.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in the two. Anthony Black is averaging 26.0 PPG in the two for the Magic and Desmond Bane 25.0. Excellent young forward Franz Wagner didn’t play in either due to injury and remains sidelined. Orlando has really missed him.

The Raptors are 34-21 all-time as the home club in the series and have taken the past two.

Orlando Magic

Orlando snapped a six-game skid with a 121-117 win over a not-trying Sacramento team on Thursday, a perfect get-right opponent and then the Magic had a few days off. I’d expect them to start playing a lot better. Paolo Banchero had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. It was his third straight 30-point game, in which the former No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year is averaging 35.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Guard Anthony Black (15.3 PPG) has been out since March 7 due to an abdominal strain and will not make it back Sunday. Orlando plays in a lot of close games, going 17-11 in those decided by five-points-or-fewer, 11-5 in those decided by three points-or-fewer (most such wins in the league), and 6-2 in games decided by one point (most in the NBA and in franchise history). The over is 9-2 in the Magic’s past 11 overall.

Toronto Raptors

The Dinos have alternated wins and losses over their past four following a 119-106 home victory vs. New Orleans on Friday. Toronto shot 51.6 per cent from the field to improve to 21-4 when hitting at least half its shots. It also improved to 28-2 when holding foes under 110 points. Scottie Barnes had a double-double of 23 points and 12 assists, while Jakob Poeltl joined him in that club with 18 points and 11 boards. Barnes has tied a career high with 27 double-doubles in a season. RJ Barrett left for the locker room in the second but was able to return to the court and not listed on the injury report for Sunday. Guard Immanuel Quickley missed a third in a row and will not return for this one. Brandon Ingram struggled with his shot in that victory at 5-for-13 for just 13 points and is questionable for this with a heel injury. Toronto is 6-2 ATS in its past eight.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Magic vs. Raptors?