by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Miami-Dade Arena, Miami, FL
Where to watch: BSSUN, BSFL
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Heat -7; MIA -280, ORL +235
FanDuel: Heat -7.5; MIA -330, ORL +265
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
Magic: 19-29
Heat: 27-22
The second half of the basketball season is upon us, and what a cluster we've got in the standings right now, right? So many teams are in the playoff hunt, so many teams not expected to make the playoffs are in the process of trying to prove people wrong. You know who doesn't need to be made wrong? Our champion handicappers who have been killing it all year long. Scott Rickenbach is coming off a 5-2-0 week over the last seven days, while Doc's Sports has been efficient at 14-8-0 over the last 30 days. Do you want to get on this winning? Make sure you're following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to celebrate in these moments!
Magic - Heat preview, prediction and analysis
The Orlando Magic will be playing the Miami Heat on Friday, January 27 in Miami, Florida.
The Orlando Magic won against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, January 25 in Orlando, Florida with a score of 126-120. The Orlando Magic currently rank 4th in the Southeast Division. Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and Garry Harris made all six of his 3-point shots and added 22 points for the Orlando Magic. Wendell Carter Jr. had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic.
Orlando made 15 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and shot 56% overall. Harris, who made 8 of 9 shots, was the only one of 11 Magic players not to have an assist.
“My teammates did a good job of finding me,” he said. "When the ball moves like it did — I mean, we had a season high in assists (34) today. When the ball is popping, you’ve got to step it up and shoot the ball with confidence.
“(My shots) definitely came in the rhythm of the game. We did a great job of moving the ball.”
Orlando regained a double-digit lead just before the third-quarter buzzer on Franz Wagner's layup after a length-of-court pass from Jalen Suggs.
The Magic went back up by 17 points early in the fourth quarter, before Indiana closed within four in the final minute.
Orlando has turned it around lately with three wins in four games after losing four of their last six. They've also been great against the spread, covering six of the last seven. You need to take those young teams that have a lot of upside, especially when they're getting points. This is one of those times.
The Miami Heat won against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night in Miami, Florida with a score of 98-95. The Miami Heat currently rank 1st in the Southeast Division. Bam Adebayo scored 30 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and put Miami ahead for good on a jumper with 20.4 seconds left — carrying the Heat to a 98-95 victory over the Boston Celtics.
“They booted us in the Eastern Conference finals last year," said Adebayo, who is averaging 21.6 points and 10.2 rebounds so far this season. “I feel like a lot of guys still carry that."
Miami used a 15-0 run in the fourth to erase a 10-point deficit and held Boston to 13 points in the final quarter — matching the fewest points by the Celtics in any period this season.
Adebayo had nine points and eight rebounds in that fourth quarter.
“It's not really my nature to go out and campaign," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I just think he's an All-Star and he showed it tonight. It's a big win. It was on TV. I hope people notice."
The Heat have also played good ball as of late with seven wins in their last 10 games, notably wins in three of their last four against Boston and two against New Orleans. They're on a good spot right now, but haven't covered in three of their last five.
Prediction
The Magic have done very well in Miami, covering six of the last eight meetings in the home of their in-state rival. If this young team gets things rolling, I wonder how Miami will handle it if it gets close. Heat 105, Magic 102
The Orlando Magic won against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, January 25 in Orlando, Florida with a score of 126-120. The Orlando Magic currently rank 4th in the Southeast Division. Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and Garry Harris made all six of his 3-point shots and added 22 points for the Orlando Magic. Wendell Carter Jr. had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic.
Orlando made 15 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and shot 56% overall. Harris, who made 8 of 9 shots, was the only one of 11 Magic players not to have an assist.
“My teammates did a good job of finding me,” he said. "When the ball moves like it did — I mean, we had a season high in assists (34) today. When the ball is popping, you’ve got to step it up and shoot the ball with confidence.
“(My shots) definitely came in the rhythm of the game. We did a great job of moving the ball.”
Orlando regained a double-digit lead just before the third-quarter buzzer on Franz Wagner's layup after a length-of-court pass from Jalen Suggs.
The Magic went back up by 17 points early in the fourth quarter, before Indiana closed within four in the final minute.
Orlando has turned it around lately with three wins in four games after losing four of their last six. They've also been great against the spread, covering six of the last seven. You need to take those young teams that have a lot of upside, especially when they're getting points. This is one of those times.
The Miami Heat won against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night in Miami, Florida with a score of 98-95. The Miami Heat currently rank 1st in the Southeast Division. Bam Adebayo scored 30 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and put Miami ahead for good on a jumper with 20.4 seconds left — carrying the Heat to a 98-95 victory over the Boston Celtics.
“They booted us in the Eastern Conference finals last year," said Adebayo, who is averaging 21.6 points and 10.2 rebounds so far this season. “I feel like a lot of guys still carry that."
Miami used a 15-0 run in the fourth to erase a 10-point deficit and held Boston to 13 points in the final quarter — matching the fewest points by the Celtics in any period this season.
Adebayo had nine points and eight rebounds in that fourth quarter.
“It's not really my nature to go out and campaign," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I just think he's an All-Star and he showed it tonight. It's a big win. It was on TV. I hope people notice."
The Heat have also played good ball as of late with seven wins in their last 10 games, notably wins in three of their last four against Boston and two against New Orleans. They're on a good spot right now, but haven't covered in three of their last five.
Prediction
The Magic have done very well in Miami, covering six of the last eight meetings in the home of their in-state rival. If this young team gets things rolling, I wonder how Miami will handle it if it gets close. Heat 105, Magic 102
Betting trends
Magic are 7-0 ATS after a win by 6 points or less this season.
Magic are 23-19 ATS on Friday night games the past 3 seasons.
Heat are 10-11 ATS after winning 2 of 3 games this season.
Heat are 7-17 ATS off 2 straight home wins the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Magic:
PG: Markelle Fultz
SG: Gary Harris
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Wendell Carter Jr.
Heat:
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Tyler Herro
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Caleb Martin
C: Bam Adebayo
Statistical leaders
Magic
Points: Paolo Banchero -- 20.8
Rebounds: Wendell Carter Jr. -- 8.7
Assists: Markelle Fultz -- 5.7
Heat:
Points: Bam Adebayo -- 21.6
Rebounds: Bam Adebayo -- 10.2
Assists: Kyle Lowry -- 5.5
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Orlando Magic - Miami Heat prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
