Stephen Nover's NBA Total of the Week
(NBA) Orlando vs. Sacramento, 03/13/2017 6:30 PM, Score: 115 - 120
Total: 207.00 | -103.00 Over
Result: Loss
This total is too high considering how inept these offenses are. Orlando ranks second-to-last in scoring averaging less than 100 points a game. The Magic rank among the bottom four teams in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage.

The Magic beat Sacramento, 102-94, when the teams previously met back in November. The Kings had DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay back then while Orlando had Serge Ibaka. Those three players all had good scoring games in that first meeting. None of them will be playing here.

Orlando is trying to rely on unreliable Terrence Ross. He's shooting 38.3 percent from the floor in nine games since joining the Magic from the Raptors in a trade involving Ibaka. Ross is a decent defender, though, so he's a plus for the under. Ross is going to see big minutes because the Magic are committed to finding out if he can be a legitimate starter for next season.

Sacramento virtually has no weapons minus Cousins and Gay. The Kings have lost eight of nine since giving Cousins away to the Pelicans. Sacramento is lost offensively. Darren Collison and Willie Cauley-Stein have failed to step up as hoped. The under has cashed in nine of Sacramento's last 12 games.

In their last eight games, the Kings have scored 85 points against the Hornets. Charlotte allows 104.3 points per game. Sacramento put up 88 points on the Timberwolves, who give up an average of 104.8 points. Sacramento could only manage 100 points versus the Nets, who have the worst defense in the NBA surrendering 114.1 points. The Kings played the Nuggets twice during this span. Denver yields 110.9 points a game. Yet the Kings could manage just 92 and 96 points against the Nuggets.

I do see the Kings playing hard here trying to stop an eight-game losing streak. But that intensity will be on the defensive end. The Magic have a rare victory opportunity, too, but I see that translating more into a defensive battle.