On Thursday, 03/06, the Orlando Magic (29-34) will host the Chicago Bulls (24-38) in an Eastern Conference Regular-Season match-up. The Magic have sunk to the 8th spot, while the Bulls have been at the 10th spot in the East for a while now. Which team will break their funk here? Read about the preview, total predictions, and player props here.
Magic: Things keep getting worse
The Orlando Magic will come into this game after a gut-wrenching 1-point loss against the Toronto Raptors as they allowed Raptors’ Ja’Kobe Walter to hit a game-winning three. This buzzer-beating shot sent them to their fourth straight loss, and the Magic hasn’t won more than two in a row since December 1. Five of their last six losses have been within 6 points, which speaks about their inability to close out games. Their lead guard, Jalen Suggs has been ruled out of the season, worsening their shooting woes. The Flordiian squad has made 10.8 triples per game(last) on a 30.7% clip (last).
Expected Starting Lineup
PG: Cory Joseph | SG: Kentavious-Caldwell Pope | SF: Franz Wagner | PF: Paolo Banchero | C: Wendell Carter Jr.
Key Injuries/Updates: Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner are OUT for the season. The status of Cole Anthony is unclear(Missed the last game).
Bulls: Decent offense but a terrible defense
The Bulls enter the affair after a 22-point loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers despite a 25-point performance by Coby White. They have lost two in a row and are 4–11 since trading Zach LaVine. They have been doing a great job on the offensive end, despite LaVIne’s exit(115.7 points per game), but their defense has been horrid with or without him(123 PPG allowed). At any rate, the backcourt pairing of White and Josh Giddey has been solid, but the lack of a viable forward has hurt the team on both ends.
Expected Starting Lineup
PG: Josh Giddey | SG: Coby White | SG: Lonzo Ball | PF: Patrick Williams | C: Nikola Vucevic
Key Injuries/Updates: Ayo Dosunmu is OUT for the season. The status of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Kevin Huerter, and Nikola Vucevic is UNCLEAR. Patrick Williams is expected to come back.
The Magic used to be a defensive powerhouse earlier in the season when they were consistently conceding below 105 points. However, they have regularly allowed teams to score in the 115-121 range for the last couple of months. Meanwhile, the Bulls regularly allow teams to go past the 120-point mark while scoring around 115. I believe both teams will score at least 110 , but Magic will keep them Bulls under 116 or so. However, the bookmakers don’t think that the total will go that high, assigning nearly equal odds at around 218-219 points. However, I still think it’d go over 220 at least.
Projected Predictions:
Paolo Banchero to score over 28.5 points: The Magic forward has recovered brilliantly from a lean period and has accumulated 33.7 points per game over the last four games, including 2 41-point performances. I expect him to be in the 30-34 points range here.
Franz Wagner to put up over 26.5 points: The Magic forward has consistently tallied 25 PPG since the beginning of the season. He has scored 25 or more in three straight games. I expect him to be in the 27-30 points range here.
Coby White go over 22.5 points: White has scored in the 24-26 points range in the last three games. I expect the pattern to continue here.
Matas Buzelis to score over 13.5 points: The Bulls forward has put up over 13 PPG since February. I expect him to be in a 14-17 points range here.
Both teams have been in taters lately. For the Magic, the home-court advantage has meant little as they have lost five of their last six games here. Magic’s backcourt has held them back, but their forward duo of Banchero and Wagner has been excellent. I expect these two athletes to show up big here and shut down the Bulls to break their 4-game skid. The winning margin can be in the 8-12 points range for them.
Safe Spread Pick: Magic -8.5 for +105 at BetMGM
Photo Credit: Mike Watters- Imagn Images
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