In a matchup of two of the NBA’s four worst teams by record, the short-handed Houston Rockets travel to Orlando to face the similarly injury-plagued Magic on Sunday night.
The Rockets trail the Magic by four games in the standings with 16 to play. Thus, in the battle to maximize 2021 draft lottery odds, which occurs if the Rockets are among the league’s three worst teams, a loss on Sunday would put them five back with 15 to play. To put it mildly, that gap is unlikely to be overcome over the season’s final month.
On the other hand, if the Rockets were to win and pull within three games with 15 left, that deficit would be much more manageable.
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Magic -1
- Money line: Magic -120 / Rockets +100
- Over-under: 219.5
Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.
As usual, Houston’s injury report is extensive. Sterling Brown (left knee), DJ Augustin (left ankle), Danuel House Jr. (right ankle), David Nwaba (right wrist), Dante Exum (right calf) and Eric Gordon (right groin) are out. In addition, because it’s the front end of a back-to-back, John Wall (left Achilles injury recovery) will rest for planned maintenance. That indicates that Wall is slated to play on Monday in Miami.
Orlando’s report is nearly as long. Otto Porter Jr. (left foot), Jonathan Isaac (left knee), Markelle Fultz (left knee) and Michael Carter-Williams (left ankle) are out, while Mo Bamba (left hip) is questionable.
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Advice and prediction
The Magic enter with seven losses in their last eight games, while Houston has dropped 10 of 11, overall. By net rating, Orlando ranks No. 29 in the NBA on offense (105.2), No. 23 on defense (112.9), and No. 29 overall (-7.7). Entering Sunday, the Rockets check in at No. 27 on offense (106.8), No. 26 on defense (113.3), and No. 26 overall (-6.5).
In a battle of two teams that appear to be similarly bad, we’re leaning to the home team in a close game.
Prediction: Magic 113, Rockets 110
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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