| Game Time | 6:00 pm EST |
| New York Knicks Line | -4.5 |
| Orlando Magic Line | +4.5 |
| Total | 217 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
In this high caliber Eastern matchup, two of the top-4 teams currently in the conference are clashing, when the Orlando Magic are hosting the New York Knicks. Both teams are coming off eliminations in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, and are looking to bounce back. The Magic are playing without their two best players in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but still managed to cover the spread in back-to-back games. On the other hand, the Knicks have been struggling a bit lately, as they have failed to cover in three straight games against inferior teams, including the Raptors and the Pistons.
Below is a detailed analysis for New York Knicks vs Orlando Magic game.
New York Knicks vs Orlando Magic Prediction
Orlando Magic Injury Report: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac and Garry Harris are out.
New York Knicks Injury Report: Mitchell Robinson is out
Orlando Magic Form and Trends
The Magic have a 17-10 record this season and are sitting on the third place of the East. The Magic are 16-11 against the spread and 13-14 in over/under. Orlando has a 10-0 home record, and are 9-1 against the spread, with a +14.4-point differential. The Magic are 7-3 in their last 10 games and 7-3 against the spread. Over is 3-0 in their last 3 home games.
The Magic are coming off a 109-114 loss in Milwaukee, as they shot with just 44% from the field and struggled mightily from beyond the arc, with just 22%. Jalen Suggs led Orlando’s offense with 32 points and 9 rebounds.
Paolo Banchero leads the Magic both in scoring with 29 points, and in assists made with 5.6, adding 8.8 rebounds per game. Franz Wagner adds 24.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game but both are out with injuries.
New York Knicks Recent Form and Trends
The Knicks have a 15-10 record this season and are sitting on the 4th place of the East. The Knicks are 11-13-1 against the spread and 14-11 in over/under. New York has a 7-6 road record, but are 5-8 against the spread, with a +1.5-point differential. The Knicks are 5-2 in their last 7 games but are 0-3 against the spread in their last 3.
The Knicks are coming off a 100-108 loss by Atlanta, as they shot with just 43% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc. All of the Knicks’ starters scored double digits, led by Josh Hart with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns leads the Knicks both in scoring with 24.9 points, and in rebounding with 13.6 per game. Jalen Brunson adds 24.7 points and a team-high 7.8 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Magic average 107.7 points per game, which is just 25th in the league. They shoot 45.2% from the field (23rd) and are dead last in 3-point percentage, with 30.9%. Defensively, they are the best team in the NBA, allowing 103.7 points per game.
Offensively, the Knicks average 117 points per game, which is the 7th-best in the NBA. They have the second-best field goal percentage, with 49.8%, and the second-best 3-point percentage, with 39.3%. Defensively, they allow 110.9 points per game (10th).
In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Knicks won 121-106 at home. Orlando is 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 meetings against New York, and are 3-0 against the spread in their last 3 meetings at home. Under is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings.
Prediction
In this New York Knicks vs Orlando Magic Prediction, the Knicks are coming as -4.5 road favorites. The Magic are the best home team in the NBA and have been perfect at home. They miss their two best players, but the Knicks haven’t covered in three straight games, two of them against teams sitting on the bottom of the East, so it is hard to make a case for the Knicks as road favorites in this spot. The Magic are perfectly capable of keeping a close game at home, so I’m going to pick them to cover the spread in this one. Take the Orlando Magic and the plus points at home.
Nick’s Pick: Orlando Magic -4.5