by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Mar 07, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Where to watch: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Arizona
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
Suns: 51-13
Magic: 16-49
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Suns - Magic preview and analysis
The Phoenix Suns are trying to keep things above water while Chris Paul remains injured due to a hand injury. The good news is there's enough in the tank for the Suns to finish as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and make another run at the NBA Finals while their point guard gets healthy.
And games against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday are going to help in the standings department. The Suns are coming off a hard-fought 132-122 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in last season's Finals rematch. The fact they were able to put up 122 points without Paul and Devin Booker (health and safety protocols) is remarkable.
The defense, however, was not prepared to stop Khris Middleton going off for 44 points and literally score one-third of Milwaukee's points, but you take what you can get if you're Phoenix at this rate. Deandre Ayton led the way with 30 points and eight rebounds and Cam Payne also had 23 points.
"That was a big statement game for us. ... We really wanted to get that win," said Phoenix's Jae Crowder, who scored 19 points. "I'm really disappointed with how we finished the game."
You can argue that the Suns did make a statement with that loss. Sure, Phoenix didn't get the win, but having been without Paul and Booker, and yet still make it competitive, shows just how strong Phoenix is this season. They were even without Cam Johnson, who hit the game-winning shot against the New York Knicks the other night. Despite the fact they haven't been as dominant as they were earlier in the year, the Suns are still the top team in the league with plenty of room for the others to develop while the two stars are out.
And with the Magic coming up, it's a great opportunity for the Suns to catch some of that mojo back. Phoenix is playing the first game of a back-to-back with the Miami Heat coming up on Wednesday. If there was a time for the Suns to actually take this game as a warm-up type of ordeal, it would be now.
The Magic come into this game having lost two of three and are coming off a 124-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum on Saturday. Cole Anthony finished with 19 points and the Magic shot 43 percent from the floor while Ja Morant had 25 points and seven assists.
"It's allowing growth for these young men, playing two tough team back-to-back and having them feel the experience of what that's like," Magic coach Jahmal Mosley said. "Memphis is a darn good basketball team. They play well together. Ja is special.
"I like the way we're playing with the pace," Mosley said, "but obviously we have to make sure we are taking care of the basketball in that same sense."
It's still a ways to go for the Magic to actually get on the right side of things, and even with Paul and Booker out the talent discrepancy is still a large gap between the two franchises.
Prediction
The line has yet to come out in this game, but I'm having reservations about anything more than 10 if you're taking the Suns. Part of it has to do with Phoenix taking their foot off the gas before the big matchup with Miami on Wednesday, and the other is I envision the home team to have a much stronger outcome this time around. Give me Phoenix. Suns by 10
Betting trends
The Suns are 31-19 ATS following consecutive non-conference games.
The Suns are 51-28 ATS after winning two of three.
The Magic are 1-6 ATS against Pacific Division teams this season.
The Magic are 26-49 ATS revenging a road loss against an opponent this past three seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Suns:
PG: Cam Payne
SG: Landry Shamet
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Jae Crowder
C: Deandre Ayton
Magic:
PG: Cole Anthony
SG: Jalen Suggs
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Wendell Carter Jr.
C: Mo Bamba
Key injuries
Suns: Devin Booker (COVID, out), Chris Paul (thumb, out), Cam Johnson (day-to-day
Magic: Jonathan Isaac (knee, out)
Statistical leaders
Suns:
Points: Devin Booker -- 25.6
Rebounds: Deandre Ayton -- 9.7
Assists: Chris Paul -- 10.7
Magic:
Points: Cole Anthony -- 17.4
Rebounds: Wendell Carter Jr. -- 10.7
Assists: Cole Anthony -- 5.7
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Phoenix Suns -- Orlando Magic 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.
