The NBA Cup’s group stage comes to an end for this year on Tuesday night and the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks are tied atop East Group A, so the winner of their game from Madison Square Garden will advance.
The loser might also move on depending on what happens in this game and elsewhere as the East’s best second-place team.
| Opening Lines Subject to Change: Knicks -5 (total 217) Expert Prediction: Knicks 109, Magic 106 |
Orlando Magic Cup Lines +164
The Magic remain without All-Star big man and 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero due to injury but haven’t missed a beat on a six-game winning streak following a 100-92 victory in Brooklyn on Sunday. The Magic used their size advantage with Franz Wagner and Goga Bitadze to outscore Brooklyn 54-38 in the paint and claim a 52-33 rebounding advantage.
Franz Wagner
Wagner had 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two blocks, leading the team in scoring and assists while finishing one rebound shy of a double-double in a well-balanced performance. Wagner struggled a bit from the field at 4-for-17, but he still managed to tally his 17th outing with at least 20 points. He has now led (or tied) the team in scoring 16 times, in rebounding six times and in assists 13 times. Wagner has scored in double figures 20 times and 30+ points five times this year.
Goga Bitadze
Bitadze had 12 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Even with Wendell Carter Jr. back in the lineup from injury, Bitadze continues to thrive as the team’s starting center. In the three games since Carter returned, Goga has averaged 10.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. He has continued to start, and he hasn’t lost out on minutes. Jalen Suggs added 12 points and five assists despite foul trouble.
12-1 in the last 13 games pic.twitter.com/Ng99OvlW8Q
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 2, 2024
Orlando also won six straight outings from Nov. 8-18. This season marks the first time the Magic have had multiple winning streaks of six-or-more games since 2010-11. With a 9-0 record at home, Orlando stands as the only undefeated team at home in the NBA.
The Magic are 6-7 on the road this season but have won four straight road games for the first time since Feb. 9-24, 2019. Orlando won four straight road games from Mar. 6-Jul, 31, 2020, but the July 31 contest was played at Disney during the NBA bubble. Orlando is 11-5 this season in games decided by 10 points-or-more. Those 11 wins by 10+ points are the third-most in the NBA. Orlando is also 3-1 this season in games decided by five points-or-less. It has had five-or-more players score in double figures 12 times (9-3 record) and six-or-more players four times (3-1 record).
Paolo Banchero
Banchero still isn’t very close to a return from a torn right abdominal muscle Oct. 30 at Chicago: “I’m feeling good,” he said over the weekend. “I finally got to do some court stuff on this trip at practice. It felt really good just to do that stuff again because I literally hadn’t done anything in a month, so it was my first time like really getting to dribble a ball, shoot a ball, so it felt really good doing that. Obviously, wasn’t any sprinting or cutting or anything, but hopefully in the next few weeks I can start getting into more of that and just work my way back into playing shape.”
^New York Knicks Cup Lines -204
The Knicks come off a 118-85 home blowout win over New Orleans on Sunday for their second straight win. The Pelicans dug themselves into a hole in the first quarter by missing 15 consecutive shots during a span of almost nine minutes in which they were outscored 23-1. They trailed 33-10 at the end of the opening period. New Orleans shot 35 for 94 from the field overall and made just four of their 27 attempts from beyond the arc.
Mikal Bridges
Bridges recorded a season-high 31 points, four rebounds, one block and seven made three-pointers. It marked the seventh time in his career with 30+ points and five or more made three-pointers. The 28-year-old two-way wing’s usage has taken a hit since he was traded from the Nets to the Knicks this past offseason but is averaging.3 points, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns recorded 14 points, 17 rebounds, one steal and one block. It marked his 17th game with a double-double this season, which is tied for first in the NBA with Domantas Sabonis. Towns also recorded 17 rebounds in the first half, setting a new career high for rebounds in any half. It was also the most rebounds recorded in any half by a player this season.
“With Rudy, he played away from the basket a lot more,” Coach Tom Thibodeau said of when KAT played in Minnesota and wasn’t used as much as a rebounder. “He’s a terrific rebounder. Always been a terrific rebounder. He’s longer than you think, long arms, strong, really strong. Great anticipation. His experiences have helped him a lot, too.”
Jalen Brunson
Brunson recorded 16 points and nine assists for the 17th game this season in which he recorded 15+ points and five or more assists, tied for the second most games in the NBA with James Harden and trailing only Cade Cunningham.
Cap is just getting started 📈 pic.twitter.com/ST82qYafxw
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 2, 2024
The Knicks held the Pelicans to 28 points in the first half, which is the fewest number of points allowed in any half this season. It also was the lowest scoring half by a Knicks opponent since the Bucks on Mar. 26th, 2012, as well as the lowest scoring first half by a Knicks opponent since the Warriors on Nov. 20th, 2001.
“We were communicating. I think we were playing physical,” Josh Hart said. “Not letting guys get into rhythm. I think that’s something that we kind of struggled with, containing guys early. We let them get into a rhythm.”
Assists Stats
New York also recorded 30 assists for the 10th time this season, which ranks third in NBA behind the Hawks (12) and Grizzlies (11). The Knicks lead the NBA in offensive rating (121.1) and are tied for first in assists/turnover ratio (2.20). They are second in effective field goal percentage (57.8) and true shooting percentage (61.0).
^How to Watch and Bet NBA Cup Betting Lines
When: Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Magic vs Knicks Season Series
It’s the first of three scheduled regular-season meetings. Orlando is 67-63 all-time vs. New York in regular season action (37-28 at home, 30-35 on the road), including 3-1 last season. The Magic have won 14 of the past 24 overall in the series but split the past six at Madison Square Garden.
^| Place your Bets anywhere, anytime by downloading the MyBookie APP |
Previous Betting News | MyBookie News Archive
2020 Knicks vs 76ers
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers will both be looking to bounce back from their respective losses on Wednesday night in order to get back in the win column when they square off in the Big Apple on Thursday. With Philly looking to get on track as the regular season inches toward a close and the Knicks already looking toward next season, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NBA Odds for the Knicks vs 76ers.
Knicks vs 76ers 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET
- Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
- TV: NSPA, MSG
- NBA Odds: Philadelphia -8.5 / Total: 214.5
Why Bet On New York
The Knicks have lost five straight and were on the wrong end of a 107-101 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. Veteran forward Julius Randle scored a team-high 18 points and second-year backup guard Allonzo Trier added 15 points in 16 minutes off the bench. Trier has played well in two straight games after not seeing any action in 13 consecutive games prior to that.
“If my number is called, I have to come in and be productive,” Trier told reporters afterward. “But if it’s not, then I have to be supportive of my teammates, try to help in different ways, tell them what I am seeing and doing those different things.”
New York averages a paltry 104.7 points per game (28th) while allowing 111.7 points per game defensively (19th). The Knicks have gone 9-21 on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 104.71
- Field Goal %: 44.12
- Three Point %: 33.61
- Free Throw %: 69.17
- Total Rebounds: 46.38
Defense
- Total Score: 111.74
- Field Goal %: 46.43
- Three Point %: 38.2
- Free Throw %: 74.16
- Total Rebounds: 44.88
New York Knicks Betting Trends
- Knicks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Knicks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Knicks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
- Knicks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Knicks are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.
Why Bet On Philadelphia
The Sixers have lost two of three and come into this contest off a humbling 108-94 road loss against lowly Cleveland on Wednesday night that saw Joel Embiid leave with a shoulder sprain. Embiid joins all-star teammate Ben Simmons on the sidelines with Philadelphia’s floor leader sidelined at least the next two weeks with a back injury.
“With the group that we had, we just didn’t get it done,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown told reporters afterward. “Defensively, we didn’t get it done and you felt it tremendously in the paint. I think they had 52 points in the paint.”
“It had a big impact,” Horford told reporters. “Obviously, we play through him and once he was out, we didn’t really know what was next. We didn’t quite know how to play.”
Philadelphia averages 108.6 points per game (22nd) while limiting the opposition to 108.5 points per contest defensively to rank fourth in points allowed. The 76ers have gone a stellar 27-2 at home this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 108.61
- Field Goal %: 46.24
- Three Point %: 35.22
- Free Throw %: 74.9
- Total Rebounds: 45.73
Defense
- Total Score: 106.53
- Field Goal %: 45.57
- Three Point %: 35.05
- Free Throw %: 74.32
- Total Rebounds: 42.37
Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends
- 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
- 76ers are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- 76ers are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 Thursday games.
- 76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Knicks vs 76ers Expert Analysis and Prediction
The Sixers will be without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in this one and they are playing some wildly inconsistent basketball right now. Still though, Philly is playing at home where they’ve been virtually unbeatable this season and they still have a pair of all-star caliber performers in Tobias Harris and Al Horford, although head coach Brett Brown has done a horrific job this season of implementing the versatile Horford into Philly’s schemes.
New York is pretty clueless at both ends of the floor and their inept ways are making No. 2 overall draft pick R.J. Barrett look like another wasted pick. The Knicks are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 1-6 ATS in the last 7 road dates against the Sixers. The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite and a bankroll-boosting 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games. Still, with the Knicks going 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games. And the Sixers missing their top two players, I think the nearly double-digit spread here is a little too high for Philly to cover. I’ll take the points and the Knicks to narrowly cover!
Pick: Philadelphia 111 NY Knicks 105
NBA Betting Center
NBA Odds and Lines
| NBA Betting |
| Make the Playoffs |
| Championship Odds |
| Conferences Odds |
| Divisions Odds |
NBA Must-Know
| All About The 2024/25 Season |
Latest NBA Betting Predictions:
- 2024 NBA Cup Betting Lines: New York Knicks at Orlando Magic Picks and Expert Analysis
- NBA Props and Futures that you have to bet right now in the 2024 Season
- Hawks at Cavaliers Odds, Score Prediction, Lines & 2024 NBA Expert Analysis
- 2024 NBA Cup Odds: Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat Picks and Expert Analysis
- Magic at Hornets Odds, Analysis & Score Prediction – 2024 NBA Week 6 Lines
