Magic vs. Timberwolves: 3 Best Bets

Before the Orlando Magic travel to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out our three best bets, powered by the lines at SI Sportsbook.

The Orlando Magic aim to continue their winning ways after besting the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, but have a much tougher opponent tonight. The Minnesota Timberwolves have two All-Stars in Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, and boast the league’s best defense, anchored by Rudy Gobert.

The Magic lost to the Wolves earlier in the season by 19 points, but Franz Wagner was out due to injury. With a healthier squad, Orlando hopes to dispatch the Wolves before the schedule gets easier, with games against the Heat, Pistons, Spurs, and Bulls upcoming.

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The injury report for both teams is rather short. Gary Harris is probable for Orlando, and Jaylen Clark is out for the Wolves.

Keep it posted for our three best bets, powered by the lines at SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Timberwolves -6.5 (-118)/Magic +6.5 (-105)

Money line: Timberwolves (-275)/Magic (+200)

Over/under: 212.5

Our Picks

Safe pick: Paolo Banchero OVER 21.5 points (-133)

Paolo Banchero: NBA All-Star. Solidified as one of the best players in the league, he will certainly be tested by the Wolves defense. In the previous matchup, he only scored 18 points on poor shooting, but with Wagner back, he should get some open looks. Gobert is an excellent defender down low, but Banchero is shooting 36 percent from deep over his last five games, on nearly two more attempts per game than average, so he’s been adept at spacing the floor.

Opponent pick: Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 24.5 points (-118)

Towns meets all the same criteria as Banchero, except he has offensive help thanks to Edwards, his partner in crime. Now a four-time All-Star, he is averaging 22.7 points per game this season and 30.8 over his last six. He lit up the Magic for 28 points earlier in the season, and Orlando has no answer for him.

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Team pick: UNDER 212.5 total points (-110)

When these two teams last played, they combined for 205 points. Both are among the best defensive teams in the league. Aside from Towns and Banchero, the best scoring options should be stifled. Jalen Suggs held Edwards to six points in the last matchup and exploded for 20, but that was probably a fluke. If you were raised on 1980s hardnosed basketball, this is the best game of the season for you.