The Orlando Magic (45-37, 8th in East) head on the road to take on the Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, 7th in East) in the third game of the NBA Play-in Tournament. The winner will lock in a playoff spot, while the loser will take on the Charlotte Hornets, who defeated the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime on Tuesday night.
The Magic had an inconsistent season, largely because one of their best players, Franz Wagner, dealt with an extended absence. The Sixers also had to play without both Joel Embiid and Paul George throughout the year. However, Embiid is out for this game after an appendectomy.
On this page, we’ll dive into why the Magic look poised to pull off the upset over the 76ers in this NBA Play-in Tournament game.
Magic vs 76ers Odds
All NBA odds used for these Magic vs 76ers best bets are current as of Tuesday, April 14, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Magic (-102) vs 76ers (-118)
- Spread: Magic +1.5 (-110) vs 76ers -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) / Under 221.5 (-110)
Magic vs 76ers Prediction
Magic vs 76ers Score Prediction: Magic 114, 76ers 107
The Magic are coming into the Play-in Tournament in top form, winning seven of their last 10 games.
Since returning to the lineup on April 1, Wagner has been quite efficient, dropping 20+ points in 26 minutes or fewer in each of his last two games. Wagner’s presence makes the Magic a much better offensive team due to both his scoring and playmaking skills.
Remember, Wagner missed 48 games this season, so you can make a legitimate argument that the Magic are actually better than their 45-37 record. While it’s always tough to win on the road, it feels like they have the edge against the Sixers here.
Philadelphia is forced to play this game without Embiid, so they’ll be relying on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. That’s going to make it tough for them to beat a Magic squad that is finally at full strength.
Magic vs 76ers Best Bets
Magic +1.5 (-110) @ 76ers
The fact that the Sixers are only 1.5-point home favorites tells me that if it weren’t for home-court advantage, Philly would be around 3.5- to 4.5-point underdogs against Orlando. Embiid’s absence is likely to have a significant impact on this game.
We just saw the Magic play it close in a five-point loss to the Celtics, who are the best team in the Eastern Conference. They’re rounding into form right at the perfect time.
Simply put, I can’t pass up the Magic as underdogs with both Wagner and Paolo Banchero in the lineup, taking on a team that is without its best player.
Back Orlando as one of your best NBA bets today.
Magic -6.5 (+200) @ 76ers
I’m confident enough in a Magic win that I’m willing to double down by taking them on the alternate spread. Without Embiid, this one could become a convincing victory for Orlando.
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For example, we saw the Sixers lose by 23 points in a home game against the Pistons back on April 4. That was a matchup without Embiid.
Don’t be surprised if we see something similar here.
