Knicks vs. Magic: 3 Best Bets
After losing last night to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Orlando Magic is looking to enter the All-Star Break on a high note. With the exception of Paolo Banchero, Orlando will have a quiet long weekend.
Before they check out for a week, Orlando has to play the New York Knicks. One of the best teams in the league, the Knicks have struggled recently, losing three straight. Their most recent loss, to the Houston Rockets, is under protest after a missed call resulted in Houston winning, instead of the game going to overtime.
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Both teams played last night, so fatigue is likely to be an issue. The Magic is healthy with no one on the injury report, and the Knicks will be without OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Julius Randle. Isaiah Hartenstein and Donte DiVincenzo are both questionable.
Keep it posted here for our three best bets, powered by the lines at SI Sportsbook.
The Lines
Point spread: Knicks +3.5 (-118)/Magic -3.5 (-110)
Money line: Knicks (+135)/Magic (-167)
Over/under: 211.5
Our picks
Safe pick: Magic -3.5 (-110)
The Knicks have lost three straight games and will be without three of their best players once again. New York lost (for now) to Houston last night, and Houston is a much worse team than Orlando. Expect the Knicks to use the All-Star Break to regroup after dropping their fourth straight game. On top of that, Orlando has beaten the Knicks in the two previous matchups.
Player pick: Franz Wagner OVER 20.5 points (-133)
Franz Wagner dropped 32 points on the Knicks in his lone matchup with New York earlier this season, and with a depleted defense, expect another big night from Wagner. He was held to only 15 points last night, so expect him to come back with a vengeance and get back into the 30-point form that he's exhibited recently. Banchero should not be the only All-Star in Orlando.
Parlay pick: Magic to win, OVER 211.5 total points, Paolo Banchero to score at least 20 points (+340)
211.5 points is a very low line in the modern NBA, and it makes sense. Orlando and New York are some of the better defensive teams in the league this year. Of the two previous games these teams played, only one hit this over, and barely. That being said, New York's depleted roster will mean that Orlando will easily post a lot of points, carrying the over all by themselves. Plus, Banchero has scored 20 points in eight have his last ten games, so expect him to enter the break with a stellar game.
