The Orlando Magic (34-46, 14-25 Away) will try to overcome one of the league’s top shooting defenses when they are on the road to face the Brooklyn Nets (44-36, 22-17 Home) on Friday. Orlando is playing on back-to-back days after being blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-94 at Amway Center yesterday.
Jalen Suggs led the way in the loss with 22 points. The Magic are the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn triumphed on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena, beating the Detroit Pistons 123-108. Mikal Bridges scored 26 to top the scoresheet.
With 19 points and three blocks, Nic Claxton also impressed. The Nets are sixth in the Eastern Conference. This is the final meeting of the season between the teams. Orlando and Brooklyn have split their two matchups this season. The Magic triumphed in the most recent meeting, beating the Nets 119-106 at Amway Center on March 26.
Cole Anthony led the Magic with 21 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. played a key role with 18 points. Bridges had 44 points in the losing effort. The Magic have been led this season by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who are averaging 20.0 and 18.8 points per game, respectively.
Meanwhile, Carter Jr. is grabbing 8.8 rebounds per game, and Markelle Fultz is dishing 5.8 assists. Claxton has powered the Nets on offense, averaging 12.6 points per game.
Claxton also has posted 9.2 rebounds per game. Royce O’Neale has doled out 3.7 assists per game. Holding opponents to only 46.3% from the field, the Nets are one of the stingiest FG% defenses in the league (4th).
The Magic have struggled in recent games at Barclays Center, losing eight of the last 10. Meanwhile, the Magic are 1-11 when playing the second of a back-to-back this season and 1-6 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest.
The Nets are 3-5 with a rest advantage. In the last 10 games, Orlando is 6-4 with an average margin of +2.7 (112.9-110.2). Brooklyn has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 114.3 points per game on average while allowing 110.4 (+3.9 margin).
MAGIC HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Bol Bol: 29.0 | 15.9 | +13.1
Moritz Wagner: 8.2 | 16.0 | -7.8
Rebounds per game:
Paolo Banchero: 10.5 | 6.9 | +3.6
NETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Mikal Bridges: 38.6 | 28.1 | +10.5
Cam Thomas: 1.3 | 13.0 | -11.7
Points per game:
Mikal Bridges: 29.8 | 20.4 | +9.4
Cam Thomas: 0.7 | 10.0 | -9.3
Assists per game:
Spencer Dinwiddie: 11.4 | 6.4 | +5.0
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Orlando Magic -11.5 (-105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
