Welcome to our preview of the upcoming game between the Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans.
The game is set to take place at the Smoothie King Center on Monday, and it promises to be a closely contested match between two teams with a lot to play for.
Both teams are looking to improve their position in the race for the playoffs, and a win here could be vital.
We’ll look at the injury list for both teams, make predictions for the game, and examine the betting lines for the Magic vs. Pelicans odds.
Injury List:
Let’s start by looking at the injury list for both teams.
The Pelicans are still without superstar forward Zion Williamson, who is recovering from a hamstring injury and is set to be out for several more weeks. The team will also be missing Larry Nance Jr. due to an injury.
For the Magic, Jonathan Isaac is set to miss the game due to a hamstring strain, while Michael Carter-Williams is day-to-day.
Prediction:
Our prediction for the game is a narrow victory for the Orlando Magic, who we expect to win by 120-117.
While both teams have struggled in recent games, we believe the Magic will have the edge in this matchup.
Their well-rounded team can score from various positions, and their defense has been solid all season.
Additionally, the Magic defeated the Pelicans earlier in the season, which should give them some confidence heading into this game.
Moneyline:
We’re passing on the moneyline for this game due to the tight nature of the matchup.
With the odds currently available, we don’t think it’s worthwhile to take either team to win outright.
Against the Spread:
We’re going with the Pelicans -4.5 (-115) against the spread in this game.
Despite their recent struggles, we believe they will be able to keep this game close, especially with their size advantage with Jonas Valanciunas.
The Magic may struggle to contain Brandon Ingram, but we still think the Pelicans can cover the spread.
OVER/UNDER:
Our pick for the OVER/UNDER is OVER 229.5 (-115). While both teams have been struggling offensively in recent games, we think this could be where they start to find their rhythm again.
The Magic and Pelicans have both had offensive ratings in the lower half of the league over their last ten games, but there is room for improvement, and we expect to see a high-scoring game here.
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