Game: Orlando Magic @ New York Knicks
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Odds: Magic +7.5, Knicks -7.5
Total: 218.5
The Orlando Magic’s first three games of the season have gone about as well as they could have hoped given the state of their roster and their rebuilding strategy. Orlando just needs a win to help it stay on track. The Magic will look to end a three-game losing streak when they travel to New York tonight.
After losing to the Boston Celtics 126-120 in their home debut on Saturday night, the Magic had the day off on Sunday. The Knicks haven’t played since their 130-106 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, which was also the Knicks’ home debut.
The Magic had the second-worst record in the NBA last season, going 22-60. That gave Orlando the opportunity to select Paolo Banchero of Duke in this year’s NBA draft. The Magic have put up plenty of fight. In losing their first three games this season, they have lost by a combined 20 points.
Orlando held double-digit leads against Detroit on Wednesday and Atlanta on Friday. They were also competitive against the Celtics on Saturday until late in the fourth quarter. Midway through the final frame, Bol Bol’s dunk gave the Magic a 109-107 lead, but the reigning Eastern Conference champions went on a 14-4 run and eventually won.
In the absence of Jalen Suggs, who hurt his ankle in Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Banchero continued to establish himself as a go-to player for the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) and Markelle Fultz (toe) are both out indefinitely.
Banchero became the fourth No. 1 overall draft pick to start his career by scoring at least 20 points in each of his first four games. In Saturday’s loss to Boston, Banchero scored seven points in the fourth quarter and finished with 23.
Following a season-opening 115-112 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Knicks’ dominating victory over the Pistons gave them some relief. In their loss to Memphis, New York overcame a third-quarter deficit of 19 points, held a lead late in regulation, missed four shots with a chance to take the lead in overtime, and missed two potential game-tying 3-pointers in the final minute.
The Knicks held a 29-point lead over the Pistons at one point on Friday. New York’s bench scored 64 points, just two fewer than the starters. Immanuel Quickley, who had zero points in under 17 minutes against the Grizzlies, came off the bench and finished with a game-high 20 points in just over 27 minutes against Detroit.
The Knicks and Magic split four games last season. Historically, the two teams have played low-scoring games. The four games last season averaged a total of just over 207 points. The last ten meetings have averaged 199.7. Not surprisingly, the Under is 6-3-1 in those last ten head-to-head games. The total has gone Under in five of the Knicks’ last seven games overall. The Under is 7-2 in Orlando’s last nine trips to New York.
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