Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic: 3 Best Bets for In-Season Tournament Matchup

The Orlando Magic takes on the Toronto Raptors in In-Season Tournament action tonight at home, and we compiled the three best picks for these playoff hopefuls.

The Orlando Magic takes on the Toronto Raptors tonight in its third NBA In-Season Tournament matchup. The Raptors are 0-1 in the tournament, Orlando sits at 1-1, so both teams are still alive in Group C.

The Magic is riding a three-game win streak, and Toronto has lost two of the last three. Plus, with home-court advantage, everything appears to favor Orlando, who is favored to win the game.

Scottie Barnes has been red-hot all season for the Raptors, so containing him will be very important to Orlando’s chances to win. The injury for both teams is brief, with Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr. out for Orlando and Christian Koloko out for the Raptors. Thaddeus Young is doubtful.

Cole Anthony attacks the paint against Dennis Smith Jr / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Both the Magic and Raptors are playoff hopefuls, so this game doubles as a Conference showdown and an In-Season Tournament game. With the stakes as high as they can be this early in the season, let’s take a look at the best bets and lines, powered by SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Raptors +1.5 (-118)/Magic -1.5 (-118)

Moneyline: Raptors (+100)/Magic (-138)

Over/under: 215.5

Our Picks

Safe pick: Goga Bitadze OVER 8.5 points (-133)

Since entering the starting lineup, Bitadze has been averaging 8.8 points and has been on a bit of a cold streak the last two games. However, with the confidence of taking over the starting center role and going up against the sixth-worse interior defensive team in the league, the stage is set for Goga to have a big game as the Magic returns to Orlando.

Opponent pick: Scottie Barnes OVER 17.5 points (-111)

Barnes started off the season looking like a surefire All-Star, but the last two games haven’t been kind to him. Scoring 14 and 17 points is perfectly fine, but it was well short of what Barnes has proven that he can do. Stopping him will be priority number one for Orlando’s defense, but he’s proven this season that he can get to the hoop at will, and he isn’t a bad shooter, either. With the line this low, it’s hard not to punch the over.

Paolo Banchero Drawing More Attention From Defenses?

Team pick: OVER 215.5 total points (-118)

Both the Magic and Raptors have top-ten defenses and bottom-ten offenses, which suggests a low-scoring game. And yes, this game will not be a shootout. However, these two teams combine to score an average of 220 points per game while allowing 108 points each, on average. This means if both teams put forth an average scoring effort and an average defensive effort, the over should barely be cleared. Is this a safe bet? No, but the numbers suggest that it should go over 215.5 by a hair.