The Orlando Magic (9-7) and Los Angeles Lakers (10-4) meet Thursday. Tip-off from Crypto.com Arena is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Magic vs. Lakers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; split 1-1 last season
The Magic are coming off a 104-93 setback as 3-point favorites at the LA Clippers Wednesday with the Under (205) hitting. The loss snapped a 6-Game straight-up (SU)/against-the-spread (ATS) win streak for Orlando.
The Lakers failed to cover as 10.5-point favorites in a 124-118 win over the visiting Utah Jazz Tuesday while the Over (234) cashed. Rookie G Dalton Knecht had a career-high 37 points and tied the NBA’s single-Game rookie record with 9 made 3s.
Orlando covered and the Under hit in both meetings last season, with the home team cashing on the moneyline (ML) in both matchups.
In the final meeting Nov. 4, 2023, Orlando won 120-101 as a 3.5-point underdog while the Under (222.5) hit. Magic F Franz Wagner had a team-high 26 points while F Paolo Banchero — who is out Thursday with an oblique injury — added 25 points, 10 assists and 7 boards.
Magic at Lakers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 9:59 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Magic +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Lakers -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread : Magic +4.5 (-105) | Lakers -4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Magic at Lakers key injuries
Magic (Not yet submitted — below was for Wednesday’s game)
- F Paolo Banchero (oblique) out
- C Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) out
Lakers
- C Anthony Davis (plantar fasciitis) probable
- F Rui Hachimura (ankle) questionable
- C Jaxson Hayes (ankle) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Magic at Lakers picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 106, Magic 105
Moneyline
The Lakers (-200) will likely win their 7th straight game, but the bid-ask difference is too high to bet the ML.
PASS. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
The Lakers have won 6 consecutive games SU, but they have only covered 1 of their last 4. They’ve been favored in 6 straight — and rightfully so — but have been overvalued on the spread in recent games.
The Magic are coming off a double-digit loss as road favorites Wednesday. It’s time to buy low on Orlando, which was among the hottest teams in the league before Wednesday’s loss.
BET MAGIC +4.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The Under has hit in the last 3 meetings and in 7 straight overall for the Magic. Orlando is second in the NBA in defensive efficiency (only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder), and I want no part of betting the Over in a Magic game until something fundamentally changes with their defense.
BET UNDER 216.5 (-110).
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