The Orlando Magic (3-10) travel to State Farm Arena Monday to take on the Atlanta Hawks (5-9). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Magic vs. Hawks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
While it is far too soon to say a team is in desperation mode, the Hawks need to figure it out now. They’re 2-8 in their last ten games and couldn’t down the Denver Nuggets two games back despite 56 from F John Collins and All-Star G Trae Young combined.
Having made it to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Hawks have been drastically disappointing to kick off the season.
While the Magic’s record isn’t even close to .500, they actually have played reasonably well. Led by G Cole Anthony, F Mo Bamba and rookie F Franz Wagner, Orlando ranks 27th in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating, so they’re clearly still one of the weaker sides given their youth.
The Magic enter Monday as big-time road underdogs.
Magic at Hawks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Magic +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Hawks -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Magic +10.5 (-110) | Hawks -10.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 213.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Magic at Hawks key injuries
Magic
- G Markelle Fultz (knee) out
- G Jalen Suggs (ankle) questionable
- F Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
Hawks
- F De’Andre Hunter (wrist) out
Magic at Hawks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hawks 112, Magic 100
Money line
PASS on the money line as you’ll never catch me laying -550 on a regular-season NBA game. However, the Hawks should win this one with relative ease. They’re 4-1 at home.
Against the spread
BET the HAWKS -10.5 (-110) as it has solid value.
While it feels like too many points, the Magic have been getting blown out lately. Given top-five draft pick Suggs is questionable and Young should know this is a must-win for his Hawks, Atlanta should come out on top with ease.
The Magic have lost four of their last five games by more than ten points, including losses of 13, 13, and 12. They aren’t hanging around in games.
Nonetheless, Young should be able to have his way with Anthony and a defensively lacking backcourt. Three of Atlanta’s five wins have been by more than 10 points.
Given this matchup will feature Atlanta’s 11th-best offense against the Magic 26th-best defense, the Hawks should get points on the board, and I expect it’d be enough to win by double digits.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 213.5 (-107) as the better value on the total.
Both teams are in the bottom half of the league in true shooting percentage despite the Hawks supposedly being one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league.
They just haven’t consistently found the range this season. Add in the fact that both teams have missed the 100-point mark in two of their last three games, and the Under feels like the much safer play.
Both teams are also bottom half of the league in pace, so this should be a slow-paced game.
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