Los Angeles Lakers vs Orlando Magic NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 3/28/21

The Orlando Magic pay a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on Sunday night.

The Orlando Magic have been in a real slump lately as they’ve lost 12 of their past 14 games and they will be hoping to bounce back after falling short against the shorthanded Trailblazers in a 112-105 home loss on Friday. Chuma Okeke led the team with a career-high 22 points with six rebounds and four assists, James Ennis added 18 points, Dwayne Bacon scored 17 points with six assists, while Khem Birch chipped in with 14 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Magic shot 44 percent from the field and 12 of 27 from the 3-point line as they rallied back from a 13-point deficit to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter, only to fade late as the Trailblazers responded with another 7-0 run.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t been at their best lately as they’ve struggled without their two best players in Anthony Davis and LeBron James, but they will be feeling better after arresting a four-game slide with a 100-86 home win over the Cavaliers on Friday. Montrezl Harrell led the team with 24 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on 10 of 15 shooting off the bench, Dennis Schroder added 17 points with seven assists and four steals while Talen Horton-Tucker chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Lakers shot 48 percent from the field and just six of 26 from the 3-point line as they struggled in the first half, before taking control in the third quarter where they outscored the Cavaliers by 28-10 to take the double-digit lead and come away with the much-needed win. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored just seven points on two of eight shooting, while Kyle Kuzma scored just four points on two of seven shooting.

Looking at the betting trends, the Magic are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a winning record, 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games against a team above .600 and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall. The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a losing record, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games following a win of more than 10 points and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.

Head to head, the under is 21-6 in the last 27 meetings overall and the Magic are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings overall.

Terrence Ross has missed the last six games with right knee soreness and is listed as questionable for Sunday so the new-look Magic could once again be shorthanded which spells trouble for a team trying to figure out their rotation with so many new faces. The Lakers have fallen off the pace since LeBron James went down, but they will take plenty of confidence from their dominant win over the Cavaliers following their four-game skid. This should be close, but in the end I think the Lakers will be good enough to get the much-needed win and cover here.