Orlando Magic (30-43) vs New York Knicks (42-31)
Game Info: Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7:00 pm (Amway Center)
Betting Odds: Orlando Magic +2.5 -- Over/Under: 229.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The New York Knicks pay a visit to the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center on Thursday night.
The New York Knicks have been in poor form as they’ve lost five of their last eight games overall and they will be hoping to snap a two-game skid after getting beaten by the Heat in a 127-120 road loss last night. RJ Barrett led the team with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, Jalen Brunson added 25 points with six assists, Quentin Grimes added 22 points while Julius Randle tallied 15 points with nine assists. As a team, the Knicks shot 51 percent from the field and 16 of 40 from the 3-point line as they kept pace with the Heat in a really close contest, until the Heat went on a pivotal 16-3 run in the fourth quarter to pull away in the end.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have been in decent shape as they’ve split their last six games overall and they will be eager to stay hot after routing the Wizards in a 122-112 home win on Tuesday. Gary Harris led the team with 22 points on seven of 10 shooting, Franz Wagner added 20 points with six assists while Paolo Banchero chipped in with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. As a team, the Magic shot 53 percent from the field and 12 of 27 from the 3-point line as they looked to be in trouble when they fell behind by eight points in the third quarter, before they exploded for 35 points in the fourth quarter to win comfortably in the end.
Looking at the betting trends, the Knicks are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 road games, 22-7-2 ATS in their last 31 games playing on zero days rest and 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall. The Magic are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games, 18-7 ATS in their last 25 games against a team with a winning record and 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
Head to head, the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings overall and the under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Orlando.
The Knicks are shorthanded again as Duane Washington Jr is listed as out, while the Magic are still missing Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs. The Knicks have gone off the boil lately and they are playing this one on zero days’ rest after last night’s tough loss to the Heat, so I’m more inclined to go with the Magic who are playing at home on two days rest. The Magic are also 18-7 ATS in their last 25 games against a team with a winning record and 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall, so I’ll back the Magic in this spot.
Peter’s Pick Orlando +2.5
AUTHOR: Peter Tran
Mitch's Take...
