The Phoenix Suns host the Orlando Magic on Thursday in a game between two struggling playoff hopefuls. The door is closing fast on the Magic, who currently sit four games out of the No. 10 seed in the East with a 4-6 record in their last ten games. Meanwhile, the Suns are a very unsettled No. 4 seed in danger of falling into the play-in tournament if things keep going poorly. The NBA lines list the Suns as -7½ favorites to break a three-game losing streak.
Find the latest NBA odds for upcoming games and futures markets at odds NBA.
Orlando’s Playoff Hopes Slipping Away
The NBA news surrounding the Magic could be better, and the team is watching their playoff hopes evaporate with each loss. Orlando is stuck in a rut with just one win in their last five games and running low on time to make a move up the standings into the top 10 seeds in the Eastern Conference. But their chances are slim after not winning back-to-back games in over a month.
Orlando’s defense remains weak, and opposing teams are punishing their lack of pressure. The Magic allowed the NBA’s 29th-worst defensive rating in the last month and are shooting over 51.8% from the floor and over 40% from deep.
Suns Fading
The Suns’ NBA Finals odds shot through the roof when the team pulled off a trade for Kevin Durant at the deadline. And while it was undoubtedly a championship-winning move, Durant almost immediately got injured and will miss most, if not all, of the rest of the regular season. Since he went down, the Suns have won just one game and are currently stuck on a three-game losing streak.
“There are no title aspirations that are reasonable for the Phoenix Suns without Kevin Durant. … If he ain’t there, they don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell.”
—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/xD1TO4c5J7
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 9, 2023
Suns bettors are struggling, too, with a 1-4 record against the spread (ATS) in their last five games. Home games have not been friendly either, with a 1-3-1 ATS record in their previous five.
The Suns’ perimeter offense and defense have been anything but championship material without Durant. During their losing streak, Phoenix allowed the Sacramento Kings to shoot over 42% from downtown, the Golden State Warriors 48.7%, and the Milwaukee Bucks 47.1%. Meanwhile, the Suns shot 29%, 19%, and 34.8% from behind the arc in those losses.
Magic vs Suns Game Injuries
Magic vs Suns Head-to-Head
The Magic won the only matchup back in November 114-97. The NBA betting lines listed the Magic as +7 underdogs. Orlando has now covered three of their last four games against Phoenix.
Magic vs Suns Game Information
- Game: Orlando Magic (28-41) vs Phoenix Suns (37-32)
- Location Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
- Day/Time: Thursday, March 16, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Magic vs Suns Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Magic vs Suns Betting Lines
Magic vs Suns Picks and Prediction
Neither team is heading in the right direction, and I hesitate to trust either with my NBA picks to cover this game. However, with two teams that fail to defend the perimeter, Thursday’s game could be a high-scoring affair. Both teams are desperate to win and could put up big numbers on offense. If you plan to bet online tonight, the play for this matchup is over on the total.
The Orlando Magic are listed at +263 in our Vegas NBA lines. If you wager $100 on the Magic, you can win $263. The Phoenix Suns are -320, offering a chance to win $31 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Magic a 27.55% chance to win, with the Suns at 76.19%
The odds for NBA championship are available at BetUS Sportsbook and Casino.
Magic vs Suns Trends
Magic vs Suns Edge
Magic vs Suns Results
Magic vs Suns Game Summary
Suns vs Magic Previous Game (Nov 11, 2023)
The Phoenix Suns had a bounce-back game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 129-117 following a rough loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. It was the first game that Chris Paul had missed this season, but the rest of the roster was able to step up.
The Orlando Magic surprised the Dallas Mavericks, winning 94-87. The Magic’s defense played well and they beat a much better team for the second time in the last four games.
The Suns should win this game, but they might not run away with it, with the Magic’s size playing a big part in keeping games close.
