Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
The Orlando Magic (16-31) continue their road stretch after a huge win over the Los Angeles Clippers with a game against the New Orleans Pelicans (22-24). Coming off a win against one of the best teams in the Western Conference will be a huge boost for the Magic, who need all the wins they can find right now. This season has been quite underwhelming for Orlando, and if they can create some momentum here, it’ll definitely be a morale boost.
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off a big win of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 115-109. Although the Celtics aren’t having as dominant of a season as they did in 2020, they’re still the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, so that was a big win for the Pelicans. The question becomes, who is the team you bet on? Both teams have records under .500 and leave much to desire, but one of them has to cover, but which one will it be?
Orlando Magic Betting Preview: After a big win in LA, Orlando looks to create more Magic
When looking at the Orlando Magic’s 16-31 record, you’d likely doubt that this is the same team that beat the third-ranked team in the Western Conference just a few nights ago. They are, however, that same team, and now they have their eyes set on another Western Conference team. The only problem is that the Magic are currently riddled with injuries; Cole Anthony and Gary Harris are both out for this matchup, so take that into account when you place your bets on this one.
The Magic come in as 10.5-point underdogs, giving them quite the cushion for Thursday night’s matchup. That works in bettors’ favor, though, because it gives us a lot of points to work with. Although the Magic’s win/loss record would make you think otherwise, they’re quite good against the spread. They have a 24-22-1 ATS record with most of their games going under.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview: Pelicans could be down two starters on Thursday
The bad news out of Pelicans camp is Zion Williamson is suffering from a sprained thumb and is listed on the Day-to-Day list. This likely means that Williamson will be absent from their game versus the Magic. Lonzo Ball is also listed as “out,” meaning the Pelicans will be without their starting guard. Against a team like the Orlando Magic, who just beat a Kawhi Leonard-led Clipper team, injuries are going to hurt.
The Pelicans have an overall record against the spread of 22-24, slightly under .500. They have been better in recent weeks, though, going 4-1 ATS in their last five games. If it weren’t for the injuries to Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball, they probably would’ve had a good chance to cover that 10.5-point spread.
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Pick
The Orlando Magic come in at a slight advantage over the New Orleans Pelicans. They’ve already proven they can hang with the best of them after defeating the LA Clippers. They’ve also been better against the spread recently, and with the Pelicans being down Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson, you’ve got to take the road team here. Look for the Magic to cover the spread and win another one on the road, Orlando Magic +10.5.
Betting Pick: Orlando Magic +10.5
