Magic vs Knicks Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight - NBA
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic will make the trip to Madison Square Garden on Friday to take on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, and we have you covered with our best bet for this matchup using the latest NBA odds.
The Orlando Magic are surging, winning 13 of their last 16 Games, and they have climbed all the way to the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, they're headed in the opposite direction, losing seven of their last 10 Games.
There's a strong possibility this is a first-round matchup in the Eastern Conference playoffs come April, but who are we backing on Friday? Find out in my free NBA picks for the Magic vs. Knicks on Friday, March 8.
Magic vs Knicks odds
Magic vs Knicks predictions
It may be March 8th on the calendar, but this is a big Game for the Magic and the Knicks on Friday night. Both teams are projected to finish around the 4th or 5th seed in the Eastern Conference, and a win on Friday could ultimately decide who has home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Magic do hold the tiebreaker with the Knicks, as they have already defeated them three times this season.
The injury report for the Knicks on Friday is troublesome, but it does sound like OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson are working their way back. The main question mark is on Jalen Brunson, who left Sunday's game with a knee injury and missed Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. He's questionable for Friday's game and obviously is a big part of the equation here for the Knicks.
The Magic opening as 1-point favorites and now trading at -1.5 signals to me that Brunson is almost certainly out on Friday. If the Knicks don't have Brunson, where are their points coming from against this Magic defense?
The Magic went to Madison Square Garden and beat the Knicks by four back in January when they were starting Caleb Houstan, Chuma Okeke, and Goga Bitadze because of injuries. That's not the lineup they'll be using on Friday; two of those players don't even see any minutes anymore, and the rotation is clicking on all cylinders at the moment. The Magic have the fourth-best net rating in the NBA over the last 10 games.
I just don't think the Knicks will be able to generate enough offense against the Magic; they desperately need their players to return from injury. Who on this roster can create an advantage for them by running some actions against the Magic defense? It really is just a bad matchup for the Knicks, and with the Magic only laying 1.5 points, that's the side I want to be on.
Even if Brunson does play for the Knicks, he won't be 100%, and the Magic will be able to use Jalen Suggs on him at the point of attack. It's not like the Knicks can generate switches to attack a weaker defender because then Brunson will just end up with someone who has positional size guarding him, such as Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner.
This line will ultimately move when we get an official word on Brunson's injury status, but I think he is out, and that's why I'm jumping on the Magic at -1.5, and if Brunson is out, you'll be in a good spot with this number.
My best bet: Magic -1.5 (-102 at Pinnacle)
Magic vs Knicks same-game parlay
Magic -1.5
Franz Wagner Over 1.5 threes made
Jalen Suggs Over 1.5 threes made
I'm pairing my best bet of Magic -1.5 with Wagner Over 1.5 threes made, and I'm stealing this leg from Andrew Caley, who gave this bet out on Before You Bet this afternoon. He was breaking it down on the show, and he grabbed my attention with it; it makes complete sense with how the Knicks will look to guard Banchero. Tom Thibodeau is going to try his best to clog the lane and build walls against Banchero, and that should lead to open 3-pointers for Wagner and Suggs, who I'm also adding to our SGP.
The Magic are going to have to knock down some threes against the Knicks defense to help create space, and while Gary Harris is their shooter in the lineup, I like the number that Wagner and Suggs are trading at much better than what we are seeing for Harris. I also think Harris could get faded a bit in the minutes department for Anthony Black, who is a better defender for the Magic.
Suggs has also been shooting very well of late, and he knocked down five triples in the Magic's game against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday on 10 attempts. Suggs is shooting 48% from beyond the arc over his last seven games, which is a drastic improvement from what we saw from him early in his career.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Magic vs Knicks spread and Over/Under analysis
The Magic opened as a 1-point favorite at Pinnacle and have moved to -1.5. We have seen the Magic touch as high as -2 at several other sportsbooks, and if you're looking to back the Knicks on Friday night, you should be able to find Knicks +2 in the market. This will not be the closing number for this spread; whether Brunson is ruled in or out, we will see some movement on this line.
The total opened at FanDuel at 211, and it has moved 7 points towards the Under, now trading at 204. Again, another indicator that I think is painting the picture of Brunson missing Friday's Game against the Magic, and that's why I'm jumping on the Magic -1.5 before it becomes official and the line moves.
Magic vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Orlando Magic have covered the spread in 51 of their last 76 games (+23.60 Units / 28% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Knicks.
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Magic vs Knicks game info
| Location: | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date: | Friday, March 8, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG, Bally Sports Florida |
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