Taking place as part of the 10-game NBA slate, the Orlando Magic will face off with the Utah Jazz in a cross-conference matchup.
Neither of these teams has gotten off to its desired start to the season. This is the first of just two matchups between these sides this season, as each tries to work its way into the playoff picture with plenty of basketball still to be played.
Looking at the odds for the matchup, the Magic enter as 4.5-point road favorites with -179 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Jazz are +150 to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 214.5 points.
Magic at Jazz Preview
The Orlando Magic currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-7 record to start the season. They most recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Sacramento Kings last night. On the season, the Magic have gone 4-6 against the spread, with the game total staying under in six of their 10 contests.
Paolo Banchero remains sidelined with a right high-ankle sprain, with tonight set to be his ninth consecutive game missed. An initial recovery timeline of four-to-six weeks was given for the injury. Jonathan Isaac, Jalen Suggs, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson will also miss tonight’s game. Tristan da Silva is dealing with a left calf strain, while Jamal Cain is questionable with a shoulder contusion.
Of the available players, Franz Wagner will continue to headline the production. The 25-year-old is coming off a 33-point, seven-assist and seven-rebound performance against Sacramento and is posting averages of 22.0 points, 8.6 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game this season. Desmond Bane adds 17.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while launching a team-high 9.9 three-point attempts. Anthony Black adds 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. contributes 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
Sean Sweeney’s squad is scoring 107.0 points per game, which ranks 26th in the league. The Magic also rank 24th in offensive rating, 23rd in field-goal percentage and 23rd in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 114.6 points per game against Orlando, which ranks 18th in the NBA. The Magic also rank 23rd in defensive rating, 24th in opponent field-goal percentage and 27th in opponent three-point percentage.
The Utah Jazz have limped to a 1-10 start to the season, tied with the Kings and Bucks for the worst record in the NBA. They picked up a victory over the Pelicans in the second game of the season, but Utah has dropped nine consecutive games entering this matchup. This season, the Jazz have gone 2-9 against the spread, while the game total has stayed under in nine of their 11 contests.
Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic and Trey Alexander are listed among Utah’s unavailable players for tonight’s matchup. Keyonte George is questionable with a right ankle sprain. George headlines the production with averages of 21.1 points, 6.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. Second overall pick Darryn Peterson adds 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while Ace Bailey contributes 12.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Jaxson Hayes, Isaiah Collier and Brice Sensabaugh also play key roles.
Will Hardy’s squad is scoring 106.5 points per game, which ranks 28th in the NBA. Utah also ranks 29th in offensive rating, 25th in field-goal percentage and 25th in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 117.6 points per game against the Jazz. They also rank 22nd in defensive rating, 10th in opponent field-goal percentage and 17th in opponent three-point percentage.
Magic at Jazz Pick, Best Bet
My lean is toward the under 214.5 points in this matchup. Both teams have struggled to find consistent offensive production, and I expect those issues to be on full display tonight.
These teams rank 26th and 28th in scoring, averaging a combined 213.5 points per game. Neither has established a particularly reliable offensive identity, and injuries have made it even more difficult to generate consistent production.
Utah has been held to 109 points or fewer in six of its past eight games. The only exceptions came in overtime matchups, and the Jazz were also held to 100 points or fewer in four of those contests. There is some encouraging young talent on this roster, but the offensive shot process leaves plenty to be desired. If George is limited or unable to play, that would be another major interruption to an already underperforming offense.
Orlando has also struggled to find its rhythm offensively. The Magic have been held to 107 points or fewer in four of their last five games, with the lone exception coming in an overtime matchup against the Warriors. They were held under 100 points in two of those contests and have reached that mark just four times overall this season.
Neither of these teams has a stellar defense, but the offensive problems feel largely self-inflicted for both sides. Utah has gone under the game total in nine of its 11 games this season, while Orlando has stayed under in six of its 10 contests, including four of its past five.
Buckle up for some ugly basketball and don’t expect either team to find a consistent offensive rhythm. Utah has been particularly unreliable on that end of the floor, while Orlando continues to work through the absence of its leading offensive engine in Banchero. Don’t be shocked if this looks more like a pre-2000s NBA game, with the 214.5-point total proving too lofty.
