The Orlando Magic are set to face the LA Clippers on Sunday evening at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Currently, the Magic hold a 29-26 record, while the Clippers are at 27-29. This matchup is being anticipated by fans and bettors alike, particularly in light of the recent performance of both teams.
Entering this game, the Magic have a slight edge in their season series against the Clippers, having won their first meeting decisively, 129-101, back on November 20. In their latest outing, Orlando played hard against the Phoenix Suns but unfortunately fell short in a double-overtime thriller, losing 113-110. Despite the loss, Desmond Bane shone with an impressive 34 points, while Paolo Banchero contributed significantly with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists.
On the flip side, the Clippers are looking to bounce back following a narrow defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, losing 125-122. Luka Doncic made a strong return from an injury, scoring 38 points, while Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 31 points. This matchup is crucial for both teams, particularly as they seek to improve their standings as the season progresses.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the odds for this game are as follows: the Magic are listed with a moneyline of +110, meaning a $100 bet would win $110, while the Clippers are favored at -135. The spread is set at Magic +2.5 and Clippers -2.5. The over/under for total points sits at 215.5.
In terms of injuries, the Magic’s Jalen Suggs is questionable due to back issues, and Franz Wagner is out with an ankle injury. The Clippers face significant challenges as well, with Bradley Beal out for the season, and both John Collins and Darius Garland also sidelined. Kawhi Leonard’s status remains uncertain with an ankle concern.
Betting predictions indicate a close game, with expectations that the Magic may edge the Clippers with a predicted score of 119 to 115. Historically, the Magic have shown resilience in back-to-back games, holding a favorable 10-2 record when facing rest disadvantages. The Magic’s recent games indicate a trend towards high scoring, with both teams having cleared totals of 215 points in multiple instances lately, suggesting the possibility of a high-scoring matchup.
With the stakes high and playoff positions on the line, fans can expect an exciting contest as both teams vie for critical victories.