The Orlando Magic and the Portland Trail Blazers collide at the Moda Center on Tuesday night. Here’s a Trail Blazers vs Magic Prediction. This article will include a Trail Blazers vs Magic Pick.
Orlando Magic Betting Preview
The Orlando Magic have been in a slump as they’ve lost five of their last eight games overall and they will be hoping for a better result after getting trampled by the Warriors in a 120-97 road defeat on Monday. Paolo Banchero led the team with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, Desmond Bane added 20 points on eight of 16 shooting while Anthony Black chipped in with 19 points on eight of 12 shooting. As a team, the Magic shot just 41 percent from the field and seven of 27 from the 3-point line as they traded shots with the Warriors in a game that was close until the fourth quarter. The Magic managed just 14 points to suffer another blowout defeat. The Magic got next to nothing from their bench and they needed more from Tyus Jones who finished with just seven points on two of six shooting.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers were starting to get on a roll as they had reeled off three straight wins before they got stopped in their tracks by the Pistons in a 110-102 loss last night. Shaedon Sharpe led the team with 25 points on 11 of 21 shooting, Deni Avdija added 18 points with eight rebounds and nine assists while Donovan Clingan chipped in with 17 points and 10 rebounds on six of eight shooting. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 45 percent from the field and seven of 32 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep pace from the start. They had to work so hard to erase an early 21-point deficit, only to go cold late in the fourth quarter to allow the Pistons off the hook in the end.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five games as underdogs against Southeast Division opponents.
- The Magic have lost seven of their last eight road games with both teams on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in each of their last 14 games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Magic have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Northwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
Why the Orlando Magic will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost 12 of their last 13 games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
- The Magic have won each of their last six games following a road loss.
- The Magic have covered the spread in each of their last four games on the second leg of a back-to-back against Western Conference opponents.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four home games against Southeast Division opponents that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Ten of the Trail Blazers’ last 11 home games against Southeast Division opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Magic’s last five games at Moda Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Donovan Clingan ranks 2nd in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for blocks per game (1.6) this season.
- Shaedon Sharpe ranks 5th amongst qualified players for fast break points per game (3.9) this season.
Orlando Magic Player Facts
- Desmond Bane ranks 1st in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (92.2%) this season.
- Wendell Carter Jr. is one of only two qualified players in the league to be leading their team in rebounds per game (7.5) and three-point shooting percentage (42.2%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent steals per game this season (11.0).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (6.3).
- The Magic rank 1st in the league for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (32.3).
- The Magic rank 1st in the league for free throw attempts per game this season (28.9).
Trail Blazers vs Magic Prediction
The Magic are still missing Jalen Suggs, Moritz Wagner, Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva, while the Trail Blazers have ruled out Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday and Matisse Thybulle once again. The Magic have been struggling for form, which is understanable given their growing injury list, while the Trail Blazers were starting to heat up before they lost to the Pistons last night. It’s hard to split these two teams at the moment, as the Magic open as favorites on the road despite all the injuries. However, the Trail Blazers could certainly pull off the upset if they play like they did in last night’s near win over the red-hot Pistons. This is a game I would rather stay away from, but the Trail Blazers looked good last night and I think they pull off the upset in this one.