The Orlando Magic (32-37) play the Philadelphia 76ers (41-27) Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET in the NBA’s Orlando bubble. We analyze the Magic-76ers betting odds and lines, with NBA picks and best bets.
Magic vs. 76ers: Key injuries
Magic
- PG Michael Carter-Williams (foot) out
- PF Aaron Gordon (hamstring) out
- PF Jonathan Issac (knee) out
76ers
- PG Ben Simmons (knee) out
- PF Mike Scott (knee) available
- SF Glenn Robinson III (hip) out
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Magic vs. 76ers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Magic 112, 76ers 106
Moneyline (ML)
Regardless of all the criticism received, the 76ers (-200) are 2-1 in the bubble and have won back-to-back games.
Philadelphia hasn’t covered the spread in any of those games, which is probably the source of some of the concern, but the Sixers are also going to be without All-Star Ben Simmons for the near future.
The MAGIC (+165) have lost consecutive games by double digits and are 1-2 thus far in the restart. Orlando never held a lead in Wednesday’s 109-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Orlando has beaten Philadelphia in both regular-season games this year and has won four out of their last five meetings.
Each team has their fair share of injury issues, and Philadelphia has a reputation of playing better with C Joel Embiid and without Simmons, or vice versa, but this matchup bodes well for Orlando.
In nine head-to-head games, Magic C Nikola Vučević is 5-4 against Embiid, averaging 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game compared to Embiid’s 22.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
Vučević is more efficient from the field, shooting .504 compared to Embiid’s .463 field-goal percentage. Vucevic also shoots .455 from three vs. Embiid’s .439.
I “LIKE” the MAGIC (+165). New to sports betting? A $50 bet on the Magic (+165) earns a profit of $82.50 if Orlando upsets Philadelphia.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Since we “like” Orlando on the moneyline, we “LOVE” MAGIC +4.5 (-110) for insurance on our upset special.
Orlando has covered five of the last six games against the 76ers -4.5 (-110). Philadelphia is 2-5 ATS as a 3-4.5-point favorite this season and struggles against bad teams going 5-10-1 ATS versus sub-.500 teams away from Philadelphia.
While the Orlando bubble isn’t exactly “home” for the Magic, it’s clear who the location favors heading into the game.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total is set at 222.5 for Friday’s Magic-76ers game. The Under cashed for the first time in 15 Magic games in their Wednesday loss to the Raptors.
The head-to-head Over/Under record is 1-4 O/U in the last five meetings. Let’s go with that trend and say that the missing players on each team affect the offense.
I am only “leaning” toward UNDER 222.5 (-110) because it could be “bombs away” from three for the backups. Obviously, if either team gets hot, the Over is going to cash.
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