Magic vs. Timberwolves Prediction
Can the Minnesota Timberwolves start to heat up when they play host to the Orlando Magic at 8PM ET in a game featured two struggling teams?
533 Orlando Magic vs. 534 Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, January 4, 2019
8PM ET – Target Center
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Timberwolves are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -4.5 points against the Magic. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 212 points. The public betting for this game currently has 51 percent going on the Magic on the road. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Magic heating up
The Orlando Magic are in one of their rare hot streaks right now, having won three of their last four games following a 112-84 win at Chicago on Wednesday. Orlando is 17-20 on the season, 7-9 on the road, 20-17 against the spread and 22-15 with the under.
The Magic have been led by their defense this season, allowing just 106.8 points per game this season. Offensively, Orlando is only managing 103.6 points per game while shooting only 44.7 percent from the field. Nikola Vucevic is leading the team with 20.3 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Aaron Gordon is adding 15.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.
T’Wolves looking for a spark
Minnesota hasn’t been able to really get on track all season and the Timberwolves have lost three of their last four following a 115-102 loss at Boston on Wednesday. Minnesota is now 17-21 on the season, 12-6 at home, 19-19 against the spread and 19-19 with the over/under total.
The Timberwolves are not doing anything too special on either side of the court. The defense is giving up 111.7 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 37.7 percent from the arc. Offensively, Minnesota is putting up 111.2 points per game while shooting just 45 percent from the field. Robert Covington is out tonight while Derrick Rose is doubtful and Jeff Teague is questionable. All three have ankle injuries. Rose, Covington and Teague each average double figures in scoring. Karl-Anthony Towns is leading the team with 21.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while Andrew Wiggins adds 17 points per contest.
NBA Betting Trends
Orlando
The Magic are 11-3 against the spread in their last 14 games on 1 day of rest and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a win.
Minnesota
The Timberwolves are 3-11 against the spread in their last 14 Friday games and 1-5 ATS in their last six games against a team with a losing record.
Prediction:
Minnesota has played six of its last seven on the road, so the Timberwolves should be eager to get back to their home floor. Despite that, they have still lost their last two home games to the likes of the Pistons and the Hawks. Orlando has picked up some lopsided wins over the Bulls and Raptors as of late, but also lost by 25 at Charlotte. Both teams are really hard to predict, but the injuries to Minnesota concern me. That is a lot of production that could be off the floor tonight and Towns hasn’t proven himself to carry a team on his own. I will roll the dice with Orlando getting the points as they are healthier and have a little more momentum.
NBA Prediction: Orlando Magic +4.5