Orlando Magic (28-41) vs. Phoenix Suns (37-32)
March 16, 2023 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Phoenix Suns -7.5; Over/Under: +229
(Get latest betting odds)
The Orlando Magic travel to the Footprint Center to do battle with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
The Orlando Magic have been in a slump as they’ve lost four of their last five games overall and they will be hoping for a better performance after getting thrashed by the lowly Spurs in a 132-114 road loss on Tuesday. Paolo Banchero led the team with 27 points on 11 of 21 shooting, Wendell Carter Jr. added 16 points with 10 rebounds and three assists while Markelle Fultz chipped in with 13 points and six assists. As a team, the Magic shot 45 percent from the field and 10 of 29 from the 3-point line, but they didn’t come ready to play defense and leaked 38 points in the first quarter and things only got worse in the second half where they leaked 65 points to get blown out in the end.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have cooled off a bit with three losses in a row and they will be hoping to bounce back after getting routed by the Bucks in a 116-104 loss on Tuesday. Devin Booker led the team with 30 points on 13 of 27 shooting, DeAndre Ayont added 16 points with eight rebounds while Cameron Payne chipped in with 13 points off the bench. As a team, the Suns shot 43 percent from the field and eight of 23 from the 3-point line as they poured in 36 points in the third quarter to erase an early 16-point deficit and take the lead, only to go cold and score just seven points in the final 6:48 to allow the Bucks off the hook in the end.
Looking at the betting trends, the Magic are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 road games, 16-7 ATS in their last 23 games against a team with a winning record and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. The Suns are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five home games, 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a losing record and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
Head to head, the under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Phoenix, the Magic are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings overall and the Magic are 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Phoenix.
The Magic could be shorthanded again as Gary Harris is listed as questionable, while the Suns are still missing Kevin Durant and Landry Shamet. The Magic have been struggling lately and their confidence took a major hit after getting blown out by the slumping Spurs in a bad loss on Tuesday. The Suns could do with a win after three tough losses in a row, but they were more than competitive against the Bucks in their last outing and I think they can go one better in this one. The Magic hold the edge in betting trends, but I think the line is just short enough to stick with the Suns in this spot.
