The Suns are hosting the Magic on Thursday night. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Phoenix is favored by 1.5 points and this game carries a total of 221.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Suns vs. Magic prediction, preview
The Suns’ terrible start to the season continued last night with a 132-119 home loss to the Blazers. Phoenix is now 1-5 and ranks 25th in net rating. With Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges scoring the ball well, the Suns are a decent offensive group, ranking 12th in offensive rating. However, the Suns can’t defend anyone with this team ranking dead last in defensive rating and they have been getting bullied on the glass, ranking dead last in rebound rate.
With the Suns playing their second game in two nights, it’s hard to imagine their defense or rebounding improving. In fact, both will likely be worse than usual. One positive development for Phoenix is that Jalen Green finally showed some signs of life last night, scoring a season-high 22 points in the loss to Portland.
Before this, the guard had scored 12 points or less in four of his first five. Still, the Suns came up short last night vs. the Trail Blazers with Green scoring more, as the team’s defense was terrible, once again. This was a tough matchup, though, as Portland is 6-1 and ranks third in net rating this season, and things do get easier tonight with the Magic visiting.
Just like the Suns, the Magic are off to a bad start, sitting at 2-5 and ranking 24th in net rating, just one spot ahead of Phoenix. Orlando ranks bottom-eight in offensive rating, defensive rating, rebound rate and turnover percentage.
The Magic are already dealing with some injuries to key players, which has been their downfall for the last few years. Paolo Banchero suffered a high ankle sprain just two games in and Jalen Suggs suffered a knee injury in just his third game. Suggs is supposed to be reevaluated next week, but Banchero is still around a month away from returning.
Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane have been doing what they can, leading the Magic 20.3 and 17.9 PPG, respectively, and Anthony Black has stepped up, scoring a career-high 16.5 PPG. Although, outside of these three, the Magic have struggled to find offense.
Orlando has looked good at times, though, as its two wins have come against quality opponents, beating the Knicks and the Raptors. The Magic are also the more rested team tonight, as they haven’t played since Monday while the Suns just played last night, so this is a good bounce spot for Orlando after dropping two straight.
Suns vs. Magic pick, best bet
The Magic have many issues, but they have been the more competent team over the Suns and Orlando having two extra days of rest in its favor is a big deal.
I understand that the Suns are the home team, but they shouldn’t be favored for this matchup and I like backing the Magic for the upset on the moneyline.
