Nick Parsons Available Picks

May, 13 2008 7:00pm EST
TOTAL: Over 186 (-110)
LOSS for -2 unit(s)

Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons

OVER the total in Detroit vs Orlando @ 7:05 PM ET With Chauncey Billups not being 100% and, in fact, listed as questionable for tonights game, this game could once again feature an Orlando challenge just like Game Four did. The difference tonight will be that, since its an elimination game, the Magic can be expected to pull out all the stops in trying to avoid elimination as they hope to send this series back to Orlando for a Game Six. This means that even if the Magic are down late there will be plenty of fouling to extend the game in hopes of having a shot at getting the win to stay alive. For Detroit, they are 14-3 since 2003 when theyve had a chance to get a fourth win to wrap up a series. Even without Billups, the Pistons managed to sneak out a win at Orlando in Game Four and they certainly can notch the series clinching victory tonight even if Billups does not play. However, the Magic are absolutely going to challenge in this game. Orlandos Dwight Howard is coming off of his worst scoring output in a long time. The eight points that Howard scored on Saturday was his lowest scoring night (in game where he played more than twelve minutes) since April 5th. In fact, there were only two games in the entire regular season where Howard scored less than eight points when he played at least twelve minutes in a game. As you can see, Howards production is likely to be much better tonight and that should help key a victory with the over in this game! Note that Howard was an amazing 65 of 104 from the field before his poor Game Four performance. After averaging nearly 21 points per game in the first eight games of this postseason, Howard will absolutely bounce back from Saturdays disappointment with a big game tonight! Also note that Jameer Nelson, catching some media flak for guaranteeing a Game Five victory, has been playing very well after making the proper adjustments following a tough Game One performance. Nelson has averaged over 18 points and over six assists per game in the last three games. With Billups either out (or playing at less than 100%), the opportunity will be there for another big game from Nelson. After Orlando struggled to put up points in Game One of this series, Nelson has certainly been a catalyst for the offense since then. Hes led them to average nearly 98 points per game in the last three games. With the offense clicking for the Magic and the Pistons looking to close this series out tonight, there will be plenty of offensive fireworks in this game and that spells O-V-E-R!