Denver Nuggets vs Orlando Magic Prediction 1-5-24 NBA Picks

The Orlando Magic pay a visit to the Denver Nuggets at the Ball Arena on Friday night. Here’s a Magic vs Nuggets Prediction.

Orlando Magic 

The Orlando Magic have been in a rut as they’ve lost eight of their last 11 games overall and they will be hoping to snap a three-game skid after getting beaten by the Kings in a 138-135 double overtime road defeat on Wednesday. Paolo Banchero led the team with 43 points and five assists on 13 of 25 shooting, Jalen Suggs added 24 points while Caleb Houston chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Magic shot 48 percent from the field and a sizzling 25 of 44 from the 3-point line but it still wasn’t enough to get the job done as the Magic went scoreless in the final 2:09 of the second overtime to allow the Kings off the hook in a disappointing finish. 

Orlando Magic Team Facts

• The favorites have won each of the Magic’s last 12 games at Ball Arena.
• The Magic have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as underdogs against Northwest Division opponents.
• Eight of the Magic’s last nine games against the Nuggets following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.

Denver Nuggets 

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have been on a tear for a while now as they’ve won 11 of their last 13 games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after last night’s 130-127 road win over the Warriors. Nikola Jokic led the team with 34 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, Aaron Gordon added 30 points with nine rebounds on 11 of 17 shooting while Jamal Murray chipped in with 25 points and six assists. As a team, the Nuggets shot 56 percent from the field and nine of 26 from the 3-point line as they looked to be in trouble after allowing 44 points in the third quarter to squander a 10-point lead and fall behind by 18 points, before they rallied in the fourth quarter to steal the win on a clutch shot from Jokic at the buzzer. 

Denver Nuggets Team Facts

• The Nuggets have won each of their last 13 games at Ball Arena following a road win.
• The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the last six games between the Magic and Nuggets.
• Each of the Nuggets’ last six games against the Magic following a road win have gone OVER the total points line.

Magic vs Nuggets Prediction

The Magic are severely shorthanded for this one with Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris and Joe Ingles all ruled out, while the Nuggets could rest a player at the last second given that this is their second game of a back to back set. The Magic have been mired in their worst slump of the season as the injuries continue to pile up and I don’t think their fortunes will change anytime soon. Yes, the Nuggets are playing this one on zero days’ rest, but they have all their players available as of this writing and they’ve been dominant at home.