The New Orleans Pelicans try to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Orlando Magic in an interconference NBA matchup on Monday night. New Orleans is playing its first home game since February 10 and is currently hanging onto 10th place in the Western Conference by just a half-game over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Orlando has alternated between wins and losses over its last eight games, falling to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, and is 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, 1.5 games behind the Pacers. This has the possibility of being one of the more exciting NBA matchups of the night, so let’s do a little Magic vs Pelicans betting analysis and help you determine your best wagers to make on this one.
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Information
Orlando Magic vs New Orleans Pelicans
Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA.
Date and Time: Monday, February 27, 2023, 8:00 PM ET.
How to Watch: NBA League Pass
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Recent Scores
These two teams have played just one other time this season, a 13-point Magic win at home on January 20. Magic has won seven of its last nine games against New Orleans dating back to the start of the 2018-19 season, including the last two.
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Analysis
Orlando Magic Facts to Know
As we look at the upcoming NBA schedule Orlando Magic fans might be a little worried about their team’s chances. Monday begins a three-game road trip, which is followed by a four-game Western swing later in March.
The Magic have the likely Rookie of the Year Award winner in forward Paolo Banchero, who has been outstanding in his first NBA season. Banchero is averaging a team-high 19.7 points while also contributing 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest.
Forward Franz Wagner is another young player that the Magic are looking to build around, as he’s averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. Wagner has scored 21 points in each of the Magic’s two games since the All-Star break.
Despite all of the young talent on the Magic roster, the team struggles to score at times. A look at the NBA team stats shows Orlando is 28th in the league in points per game with just 110.8.
New Orleans Pelicans Facts to Know
When making any New Orleans Pelicans picks, you have to pay attention to who is able to play in that game. The Pelicans have two of the higher-scoring players in the NBA player stats in forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, but those two have appeared in just 29 and 26 games, respectively, this season.
Ingram has been healthy of late, averaging 28.8 points in the month of February. He’s coming off a disappointing 19-point performance against the New York Knicks on Saturday, so look for him to be aggressively looking for his shot in this one.
The team’s most consistent player as far as production and being on the floor has been guard CJ McCollum. The veteran shooter is averaging 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and a team-high 5.9 assists per contest while hitting 38.2% of his 3-point attempts this season.
Center Jonas Valanciunas is a force in the paint, leading the team with 9.8 rebounds per game while also scoring 14.3 points a contest. Valanciunas is shooting 54.2% from the floor, mainly on shots from the paint, though he will occasionally step outside the arc for a 3-point attempt as well.
Updates
As we stated earlier, if you’re going to be doing any Magic vs Pelicans betting analysis, injuries are going to play a key part. Much of Orlando’s regular rotation will be healthy and ready to go for this one, but it’s a different story for the Pelicans.
Williamson isn’t expected back for a few weeks as he deals with a hamstring injury, and reserve forward Larry Nance Jr. is also out due to an ankle injury suffered against the Knicks on Saturday.
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
This game is expected to be one of the more competitive on the NBA schedule on Monday, with the Pelicans listed as four-point favorites at home. You can get -110 odds on whichever team you take on a point-spread wager.
If you prefer to bet on the moneyline, a straight-up Orlando win gets you +148 odds, while New Orleans is listed at -170. The over/under for this game has been set at 227 points, with -110 odds on either side of that bet.
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Prediction
After all of the Magic vs Pelicans betting analysis, this is a tough choice to make. The young Magic have shown some spark of late, but not much consistency, while the Pelicans are looking to make up for an ugly showing against the Knicks on Saturday.
Finally being back home is going to be the difference for New Orleans, which should be able to win and cover the spread in this game. Both teams like to get out and run when they can, so we like the over to hit in this contest as well.
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