Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets: 3 Best Bets

The Orlando Magic continues the NBA In-Season Tournament tonight, traveling to NYC to take on the Brooklyn Nets.

Both teams have a crowded injury report. The Magic lists Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., and Gary Harris as out, and the Nets will be without Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas; Lonnie Walker IV is questionable.

The Magic is an underdog tonight, which is rather surprising. Simmons is the Nets’ second-best defender behind Nic Claxton, and Thomas is averaging a whopping 26.9 points per game, so their best offensive and defensive players will be unavailable.

Orlando will once again be without Fultz, which means Anthony Black will get the nod at point guard. In three starts, Black has a box plus/minus of +25. Off the bench, he is only +10.

With shorthanded lineups and a possible lack of defense in mind, let’s look at the odds, powered by SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Nets -2.5 (-125)/Magic +2.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Nets (-163)/Magic (+120)

Over/under: 218.5

Our Picks

Safe Pick: Jalen Suggs OVER 12.5 points (-110)

In the last three games, Jalen Suggs has averaged 17 points. With Markelle Fultz unavailable, the majority of backcourt action will run through Suggs, not Black. With Nic Claxton down low, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will have trouble and are too risky to bet on tonight. With no Ben Simmons, Mikal Bridges will have to do his best to protect the perimeter on his own. Suggs will get more looks than usual, which means more points.

Opponent pick: Mikal Bridges OVER 25.5 points (-118)

With no Thomas, someone has to score the ball. Suggs has been a good defender all year, but the Nets’ versatile offense favors Bridges, who is willing to try to score from anywhere. With no Thomas and Walker still questionable, the brunt of the offense will run through Bridges, who has shown throughout his career that he can be a high-volume scorer when his number is called.

Team pick: Magic to win (+120)

As with most of our picks, injuries are a major factor. Claxton will do his best to stop either Wagner or Banchero inside the three-point line, but the two-headed monster of forwards will be too much for him to stop alone. Simmons won’t be available to provide his usual help, and as Anthony Black gets more confident in the starting role, the Magic should be able to hit the town tonight as winners.