The Orlando Magic will bring in the reeling Los Angeles Lakers for an inter-conference matchup Tuesday night.
Having appeared to have pulled it together when they won eight of 10 in a run that started in November and bled into December, the Lakers are back to their struggles. They’ve lost four in a row, including meetings at Phoenix and Sacramento and home against Charlotte.
After losing nine straight, Orlando is enjoying its best stretch this year. The Magic have won seven of eight, including both of their last two outings.
This one will give an even better idea of where both teams are trending. While both seem unlikely to make a deep postseason run — or maybe even reach the playoffs — it should be interesting to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Orlando promises to be an up-and-coming group, while Los Angeles is hoping to squeeze one more title out of a collection of talent that has felt clunky for the most part.
We’ll try to get a better handle on things with a Lakers vs Magic betting preview. Let’s take a gander at some NBA team stats and how both have done in their most recent NBA matchups. We’ll also consider the NBA odds before making our NBA picks.
Here is our Lakers vs Magic betting analysis.
Last Game Records
The Lakers (13-20) bowed to Dallas, 124-115, on Christmas Day. The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic netted 32 points, and Tim Hardaway posted 16 of his 26 in the third quarter of the tilt.
Dallas pinned up 51 points in the third quarter, which marked the highest-ever output in a frame on Christmas Day and the best this season, too.
That meant that LeBron James’ 38-point effort, which fell just one shy of his campaign-high. His side had a dozen-point lead shortly after halftime, which soon after evaporated.
The Magic (13-21) downed San Antonio by 20 points on Friday. Cole Anthony led Orlando with 23 points and fell just an assist short of a triple-double, while Franz Wagner scored 21. Paolo Banchero finished with 18 points, and Mo Bamba sunk three treys in a 51-second span.
Matchup Information
Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis
Orlando Magic
While the Magic have been somewhat underwhelming this season, they’re hanging around with a 9-9 record at home despite a 13-21 overall record. They’ve also gone 6-5 against Western Conference opponents this year, giving some caution optimism ahead of Tuesday night’s game.
Orlando also does a great job of making sure the over hits. The Magic are 7-1 this season in covering the over/under total when they are moneyline favorites of less than -300 (they’re -180 as of writing). The over is also 8-1 in Magic games when their opponent has a win percentage under .400 for the season (the Lakers enter this game at .394).
Keep an eye on Markelle Fultz, who will need to step up for the injured Jalen Suggs. Fultz has exceeded his points prop just 38% of the time this season, but with an expanded role and more minutes, this could be a good opportunity to hit the over. He’s the second-best perimeter shooter on the team at .438 from beyond the arc, just a touch behind Gary Harris at .440.
Los Angeles Lakers
The seasoned vet, James, has averaged 27.8 points per game up until this juncture. LeBron has typically been known as the glue that holds his squads together, and it doesn’t seem any different this time around.
NBA player stats also show Anthony Davis has pulled down 12.1 boards per game, the third-best average in the league, while Russell Westbrook adds 7.5 assists, which also grades out in the top 10.
Banchero puts up 21.7 points and 4.0 assists per game on average, while Bol Bol rebounds 7.1 shots. The Magic have a solid young core to build around.
Updates
As we move forward with our Lakers vs Magic betting analysis, NBA picks are much easier to weed out when you are fully aware of who will and won’t be suiting up.
For the Lakers, Davis is out with a stress fracture in his right foot. He should be re-evaluated in two weeks or so. LeBron is nursing an ankle ailment but should be good to go against Orlando.
Point guard Dennis Schroder is day-to-day but probable to play against the Magic with left foot soreness. Forward Juan Toscano-Anderson is out with an ankle issue.
Guard Jalen Suggs (ankle) and forwards Chuma Okeke (knee) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are out for Orlando.
Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Orlando is the favorite in this one, as they’re marked down as -3.5 at -114, while the Lakers are -106 to cover.
On the money line, the Magic is -180, and Los Angeles is a +152 underdog. The total is listed at 235 points, with the over -108 and the under -112.
Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Prediction
The Magic are young and on a roll. The Lakers can’t depend on LeBron day in and day out on the NBA schedule and expect to function at an elite level. James is an all-time great, but he can’t fully carry a team like he used to.
Take Orlando on the spread.
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