NBA Basketball: Orlando Magic VS Phoenix Suns Pick and Predictions 03/16/2023

Game: 10:10 PM ET,  Thursday, March 16th, 2023

Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona

TV:  NBA League Pass

Magic: 28-41, 13th pace Eastern Conference

Suns: 37-32, 4th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Suns -7.5, O/U 228.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Suns -8, O/U 228.5

Fanduel: Point Spread:  Suns -8, O/U 228

Magic: PG Markelle Fultz, SG Gary Harris, SF Franz Wagner, PF Paolo Banchero, C Wendell Carter JR

Suns: PG Chris Paul, SG Devin Booker, SF Josh Okogie, PF Torrey Craig, C Deandre Ayton

An inter conference matchup to close out the night of NBA action.  The matchup is not exactly equal… but thankfully the point spread will make it interesting.  The Orlando Magic are bad.  Their entire roster has been built off the backs of kids waiting to prove they can live up to their potential when they were taken with high draft picks AND an assortment of young men who simply didn’t live up to their high draft picks for someone else.. And have been dumped here to try again.  This makes them bad.. But also interesting.  The Phoenix Suns are a Finals Contender.. They just need to win a few more games before the playoffs start AND then get SF Kevin Durant back healthy.  They have all the pieces.. Legendary PG,  intense scoring SG, big athletic Center… but it won’t work without Kevin. The great betting opportunity here is found in the injury list and how it looks TODAY.

The Orlando Magic have won 4 of their last 10 games.  A mistake to rise from 14th place to 13th place… but maybe they had no choice?.  The Magic have a star young player in PF Paolo Banchero and when they do not win the Draft Lottery Paolo will be the piece the entire future team is built around.  They lost their last game to the San Antonio Spurs… an awful thing for any team… 132-114. In the loss they got 27 points from PF Paolo Banchero who also managed to log a -20 (NEGATIVE 20) on the +/- scale.  6 other Magic players score din double figures… but like all Magic games they made it a track meet and played ZERO defense.. So they simply allowed more than they could manage.

The phoenix Suns are reeling since losing Kevin Durant to injury after trading for Kevin Durant and waiting for him to return from injury… The situation is headache inducing!  They have won 6 of their last 10 games but are on a 3-game losing streak.  They lost their last game to the Milwaukee Bucks 116-104.  In the loss they got 30 meaningless points from SG Devin Booker, 16 pints & 8 rebounds from C Deandre Ayton, and 11 points & 8 assists from PG Chris Paul. The Suns are a great team with Kevin Durant… but without him they really feel the effect of giving up two way player SF Mikal Bridges.

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Our prediction for Thursday, March 16th is…. Suns 119 - Magic 117

Bet on the Magic.  The Suns amy get the win… the Suns should get the win… but an 8 point spread against a struggling team makes that bet easy to take.  Bet on the Magic and count on those points to make you $$$.

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The Suns are 2-0 ATS versus Orlando in Phoenix the last 3 seasons.

The Magic are 3-10 ATS when playing their 2nd game in 5 days this season.

Magic: PF Paolo Banchero. He looks the part.. He will most likely win ROY.  He is big and athletic and has a level head… But when will he play team ball and defense?... Will it happen before he gets better players or should it start now?

Suns: PG Chris Paul.  Chris is slowing down.  He is an old man that has had his hopes dashed in the playoffs because of injury either to himself or others… several times!  He needs to find the next gear and play like he has a chance whether Kevin returns or not.

Magic: Jamahl “let’s get some more ping pong balls” Mosley

Suns: Monty “Mr Class” Williams