Game: Orlando Magic @ Los Angeles Lakers
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Odds: Magic +2, Lakers -2
Total: 218
The Orlando Magic begin a difficult back-to-back in Los Angeles tonight taking on the 1-2 Lakers before getting the Clippers tomorrow night in the same arena. The Magic have won two straight games, and although they didn’t exactly happen against two of the NBA’s best teams, Orlando has been able to perform as expected thus far.
Following their win in their home opener against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, the Magic defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 102-97 on Friday in their first road game of the season. Orlando won the game with Franz Wagner scoring 23 points and Cole Anthony scoring 18 points off the bench. Moritz Wagner also performed admirably off the bench, scoring 17 points. Anthony is in his second straight season as a bench player after starting 65 games in 2021–22.
The Magic won even though Paolo Banchero had just 14 points. He’s averaging 13.0 in the two games he has played so far. The Orlando defense contributed by limiting the Blazers to just 17 points and 28.6% shooting in the fourth quarter. The Magic are relying on their defense, which creates turnovers and allows its players to get out and run and get some great looks at the basket.
The Magic defense will put the Lakers’ legs to the test as they come off a 132-127 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on the road last night. After outscoring the Kings 60-49 in the second half, the Lakers forced overtime. During the five-minute overtime period, Sacramento scored 17 points while Los Angeles ran out of gas.
The Lakers stars were on point last night. LeBron James contributed 27 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. Anthony Davis scored 30 points and had 16 rebounds. James spent 39 minutes on the court, compared to 42 minutes for Davis.
James, 38, has played at least 35 minutes in two of the first three games of this season; however, Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham intended to try and limit his minutes for preservation reasons. Last season, James spent 35.5 minutes per night on the floor.
Guard Austin Reaves, who scored five points in 28 minutes on 1-of-12 shooting on Sunday, is a cause for concern for the Lakers. Reaves did not play in overtime and has averaged 9.7 points on 30.0 percent shooting. He was limited to three minutes during the Lakers’ comeback in the fourth quarter.
Orlando has not fared well against the Lakers recently. The Magic have lost each of the last six games they have played against LA. Orlando is just 2-4 in its last six games, but what the Magic have been able to do is keep games close. Its defense has allowed them to do so. Going back to the end of last season, the Magic are 11-3-1 ATS in the last 15 games. The Lakers are 0-3 ATS this season and 0-5 ATS going back to the previous campaign.
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