The Philadelphia 76ers (3-1) drop by the Amway Center Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip-off against the NBA’s only undefeated team, the Orlando Magic (4-0). Below, we analyze the 76ers-Magic NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
76ers at Magic: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:40 p.m. ET.
- Money line: 76ers -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Magic +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread/ATS: 76ers -3.5 (-105) | Magic +3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 219.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
76ers at Magic: Key Injuries
76ers
- C Joel Embiid (back) probable
- SG Furkan Korkmaz (thigh) questionable
Magic
- PF Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) questionable
- PF James Ennis (hamstring) questionable
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76ers at Magic: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Magic 113, 76ers 108
Money line (ML)
Philadelphia recovered from an odd 24-point whooping administered by the Cleveland Cavaliers Dec. 27 to beat the 2019-20 Atlantic Division champion Toronto Raptors at home 100-93 Tuesday. All-Star Joel Embiid was, and has been, dominant against the Raptors: Embiid scored 29 points (14 of which at the free-throw line), 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
The Magic is not only undefeated but also 4-0 ATS, including a 118-107 victory at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 29. Orlando’s own former All-Star big man, C Nikola Vucevic, also had a monster game vs. the Thunder: Vucevic put up 28 points on 12 of 18 shooting with 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
The 76ers beat the Magic 108-101 in their final meeting last regular season Aug. 7 in the Orlando bubble, but the Magic won and covered the previous three head-to-heads.
There are just more reasons to like the Magic in this spot. First, money is flooding in on Philadelphia as 87% of the cash bet is on the 76ers, according to Pregame.com, so we have the fade the market angle with Orlando.
Second, the Magic have a more established identity with a head coach, Steve Clifford, who’s in his third season on the job and a roster with years of continuity. Orlando has made the playoffs in Clifford’s first two seasons.
Third, Philadelphia is too careless with the ball, and Orlando is great at creating turnovers: The 76ers are 26th in turnover percentage and the Magic’s defense averages the eighth-most turnovers in the NBA.
At the moment, I lean MAGIC (+125) for a quarter-unit with a plan to bet more on Orlando plus the points, but I’d wait around to see what happens with this number because it looks like we’ll get a better price with the Magic around tip-off.
Against the spread (ATS)
If I lean Orlando on the money line then I like MAGIC +3.5 (-115) for 2 units. We like the spread here because the market is in on the 76ers.
Over/Under (O/U)
Five of the previous 76ers-Magic games have gone Under the total. However, Orlando’s offense has looked good to start off the year—fifth in points per game and offensive rating—and they are playing at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA.
Part of my money line handicap mentions Philadelphia’s turnover issues, and if that becomes a factor in Thursday’s game, the Magic will capitalize on those errors. I’d TAKE OVER 219.5 (-115) for 1 unit.
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Hoops Hype:
- Joel Embiid, Sixers discuss his improvement passing out of double teams (Sixers Wire)
- Rumors: 76ers | Magic
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