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The Orlando Magic (17-9) and Milwaukee Bucks (12-11) meet Tuesday in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum is set for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Magic vs. Bucks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; split 2-2 last season
The Magic are coming off a 115-110 win as 2-point favorites vs. the visiting Phoenix Suns Sunday with the Over (214.5) hitting. G Jalen Suggs scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando, which trailed by as many as 12 points.
The Bucks failed to cover as 6-point favorites in a 118-113 victory at the Brooklyn Nets Sunday while the Over (216) cashed. Milwaukee is 1-2 straight up and against the spread (ATS) over its last 3 games.
Orlando went 3-1 ATS vs. Milwaukee last season, with the Over/Under (O/U) going 2-2. In the final meeting April 14, Orlando won 113-88 as a 6-point home favorite while the Under (216) hit. Magic F Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 26 points, but he’ll be out Tuesday with an oblique injury.
Magic at Bucks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 12:36 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Magic +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Bucks -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Magic +6.5 (-105) | Bucks -6.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 215.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Magic at Bucks key injuries
Magic
- F Paolo Banchero (oblique) out
- G Gary Harris (hamstring) out
- F Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) questionable
- F Franz Wagner (oblique) out
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) probable
- F Khris Middleton (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Magic at Bucks picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 110, Magic 109
Moneyline
The Bucks (-300) are the healthier team and are at home, but I question how seriously they’re taking the In-Season Tournament. Milwaukee’s goal this season should be to stay healthy in the regular season and make a push for the NBA Finals.
Do I really want to lay -300 on it, in a game that the young Magic will likely care more about winning?
PASS. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
The Magic were available at +9 Sunday night, so this line has moved considerably in their direction. However, I would still be comfortable taking 6.5 with Orlando.
The Bucks core — outside of G Damian Lillard — has already won a championship, and I don’t see how winning the NBA Cup this season would provide any extra motivation for such a veteran team.
Orlando, on the other hand, is full of young players who have yet to win rings or MVPs, so winning this NBA Cup would be a big deal for them. If you crunch the stats, you’ll likely say this spread is perfect as is, but I believe the Magic’s lack of accomplishments gives them a motivational edge Tuesday.
BET MAGIC +6.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The Magic allow just 103.3 points per game, which is first in the NBA, but they’re still 6-4 O/U in their last 10. The market has been pricing their totals slightly lower than they should be lately, but it’s a marginal edge; the spread is the better play.
LEAN OVER 215.5 (-105).
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