The Magic are looking to end the five-game losing run, while the Wolves are hoping to win after consecutive defeats. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves
Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves -7 (-108) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 215 points (-108/-102)
The Magic are desperate to snap a five-game losing streak
The Orlando Magic entered this season on a high note and were at the top of the Eastern Conference at one point, but now they are in a poor form, losing previous five matches, failing to score 100+ in three of them. Orlando currently has the 8-9 record and are in the 10th position in the East that appears to be a lot stronger than the last season.
Losing the third quarter by 11 points to the Indiana Pacers played a considerable role in a 97:105 home loss on Monday, while miserable 60.9% from the free-throw line (14-23) didn’t help the magic to avoid a fifth defeat in a row. The Pacers had even 11 steals more than the hosts (17-6), and Orlando committed 22 turnovers in opposite to Indiana’s 13, so it is no wonder why the Magic failed to secure a victory. Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with his sixth double-double of the campaign, recording 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Evan Fournier added 16 points and four assists. Aaron Gordon posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 boards; Jonathon Simmons contributed with ten points, while D.J. Augustin finished with ten points, four rebounds, and four dimes. Elfrid Payton had a bad night from the field, hitting just one shot on seven attempts and scoring three points, but he did record seven dishes and team-high three thefts. Payton is not playing at a level that we used to see him, and the next matchup with Jeff Teague on Wednesday is not quite favorable for the point guard so that he could struggle in the offense yet again. Vucevic’s duel with Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint will likely be the key to the game, but the Montenegrin center will have to do a lot of work to contain KAT from dominating below the rims. Fournier will have somewhat easier job against Andrew Wiggins who is not a particularly good defender, and the Frenchman could score 20+ points on this one, which would be only the second time in seven matches. The power forward Gordon is to one to watch for the visitors as he clashes Taj Gibson, and I think Aaron could contribute with 20+ points as he failed to do so in the past five displays.
Frank Vogel is without a power forward Jonathan Isaac as the rookies sustained an ankle injury in a loss to the Denver Nuggets and will set to miss the fifth consecutive match, so Marreese Speights will continue to serve as Aaron Gordon’s backup at the PF position. The Magic are scoring 106.65 points per contest on average (13th in the NBA), while they are allowing 108.12 points in return (25th in the NBA). Orlando is among the best five teams in the league (5th) when it comes to shooting from beyond the arc (38.63%), and the defense is quite good in defending the perimeter (6th), allowing just 34.00% from downtown.
Place: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017, 8 PM ET
TV Coverage: FOX SPORTS NORTH PLUS, FS FLORIDA
The Wolves are looking to bounce back following a big loss at Charlotte
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a two-game losing streak after suffering defeats to the Detroit Pistons at home, and Charlotte Hornets on the road, and are now in the fourth place in the Western Conference with the 10-7 record. That loss to Detroit ended a four-game winning run at Target Center, but the Wolves are favorites to beat the struggling Magic on this one.
Minnesota played well through the first three quarters in Charlotte, but the Hornets won the final period by 12 points, so the Wolves lost 102:118. Tom Thibodeau’s side hit only six shots on 27 attempts from downtown (22.2%), and recorded 38 rebounds in opposite to Charlotte’s 52, while the hosts had nine assists more than Minnesota (22-13). The Timberwolves committed only 11 turnovers, but that wasn’t enough to prevent the second straight defeat. Jamal Crawford led Minnesota with a season-high 19 points off the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 boards. Jeff Teague contributed with 18 points, game-high three steals, and team-high three blocks; Jimmy Butler added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 11 points. Butler (6-15 FG) and Wiggins (5-14) had a rough shooting night against the sturdy Charlotte’s defense, but I expect the pair to respond on Wednesday when face more lenient Orlando’s D. Butler has a favorable matchup with Terence Ross and should be able to make more damage in the offense than he did in Charlotte, while Wiggins has a favorable matchup against Fournier, so they are the men to watch for the hosts here. However, Town’s contribution in the paint will play a significant part in this tilt, and KAT should be back to his usual 20+10 on this one.
Tom Thibodeau doesn’t have any injury-related concerns as all of the players are healthy and at his disposal to face the Magic. The Timberwolves are scoring 107.18 points per contest on average (12th in the NBA), while they are allowing 107.65 points in return (23rd in the NBA). Minnesota is among the best ten teams in the league (7th) when it comes to free-throw shooting (79.45%), and the defense is limiting the rivals to just 41.24 rebounds per match, which is good enough for the fourth place in the NBA.
Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves Trends & Prediction
The Magic are 8-8-1 against the spread (5-3-1 away), while they are 7-10 on over/under (4-5 away), and although their offense is not performing well at the moment, I believe Orlando can score 100+ here as Minnesota’s defense is allowing a bunch of points to the opponents. The Magic’s defense is horrible recently, and I would be surprised to see them containing the hosts to under 110 points, so picking OVER on this one is a good option.
The Wolves are 8-8-1 against the spread (4-3 home), while they are 7-9-1 on over/under (2-4-1home), and even though it is hard to predict what the spread will be in this encounter, plenty of points shouldn’t be missed, and we could witness a classic shootout at Target Center.
My Pick: Pass
Total: Over 2015 points (-108)
