Magic vs Timberwolves NBA Betting Lines & Prediction

Two of the most improved teams in the NBA meet in a very intriguing matchup on Friday as the Orlando Magic visit the Minnesota Timberwolves – a total of four former No. 1 overall draft picks will be on the floor. The Wolves are solid home favorites on the NBA odds. 2024 NBA Expert Analysis Orlando vs Minnesota | MyBookie Sportsbook NBA Week 15

How to Bet Magic at Timberwolves NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 8 PM ET
Where: Target Center
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com

First Meeting

The Wolves got just six points and three assists from leading scorer Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves led 33-16 after a first quarter in which Gobert scored 11 points and the Magic shot 6 for 27 (22% ). Moritz Wagner led the Magic with 21 points and seven rebounds. Jalen Suggs had 20 points and five rebounds and Paolo Banchero had 18 points. The Magic shot only 35% for the game and 28% in the first half. Orlando still has won 10 of the past 14 in the series and also 11 of the last 16 visits to Minnesota.

Why Bet on Orlando Magic?

The Magic have alternated losses and wins over their past four and won in San Antonio, 108-98 on Wednesday. point guard Markelle Fultz returned to Orlando‘s starting lineup and the former No. 1 overall pick had 11 points. He joined guard Jalen Suggs (7 points) as well as forwards Franz Wagner (20) and Paolo Banchero (25) plus center Wendell Carter Jr. (14) to open a game for just the eighth time this season. Those were Orlando’s opening-night starters, a group that has been decimated by injuries.

Orlando’s opening-night starting five is clearly the team’s strongest lineup with 37.7 points, 8.1 assists and 16.4 rebounds in 16.8 minutes together being team-highs. The team is still without veteran guard Gary Harris, a key reserve. Wednesday marked the 14th straight contest that he has missed with a right calf strain but he did do on-court drills Wednesday and is now likely to play Friday. The 29-year-old will likely be on a minutes restriction.

Wednesday was Orlando’s 25th win of the season coming in the team’s 48th game and on Jan. 31. Last season, the Magic didn’t get their 25th win until game No. 60 on Feb. 23. Orlando is 7-9 this season in games decided by five points-or-less and 3-3 in games decided by two-points or less.

The bright side of ending January for the Magic players is that the schedule will lighten up. Orlando wants to put behind a 6-8 December and a 6-10 January and start picking up some steam heading into the playoffs. While this game is tough, the Magic have the easiest remaining schedule in the league, with nine games remaining against the bottom five teams, including three each against the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.

The Magic last appeared in the playoffs in 2020 — before most of the current players joined the team. Also, it’s a source of frustration for the players that they haven’t had any national television appearances on TNT or ESPN yet. That will not change Friday.

Week 15 NBA Game Picks Odds Subject to Change	SPREAD	MONEYLINE	TOTAL
Minnesota	-8	-320	U 211.5
Orlando	+8	+250	O 211.5

Why Bet on Minnesota Timberwolves?

Minnesota won its second game in a row on Wednesday in trashing Dallas 121-87, although the Mavericks were without their two stars in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving as well as a few others. The Mavs shot just 6 for 29 from 3-point range against the NBA’s best scoring defense. It was the fewest points allowed by the Wolves this season.

“We felt a little weird at first, I guess,” said center Naz Reid, who had 12 points. “But we kind of ramped it up and started playing the right way. … I think we just locked in and became ourselves. I think that’s something that we can do throughout the whole game. An 82-plus game season, you have moments like that where you’ve got to find yourself and lock in.”

Leading scorer Anthony Edwards had nine points, five boards and five assists in 30 minutes. He only took five shots in the blowout. It was tied for his second-lowest scoring output of the season in a game he didn’t get hurt first. He helped limit Dallas guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to 14 points on 5-for-16.

Minnesota has been stellar against the top teams in the NBA this season. Minnesota is third (.620) in winning percentage vs. teams that are currently .500 or better. The Wolves rank sixth (.488) in field goal percentage vs. teams that are currently .500 or better and first (.452) in the NBA in opponents FG% when facing teams that are currently .500 or better.

Minnesota coach Chris Finch is a top contender to coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game with his team riding high atop the conference. The coaches for the two All-Star teams are expected to be announced by Sunday at the latest.

“It’d be a heck of an honor, for sure,” said Finch when asked about the possibility. “For myself, for the organization, but it’ll also be just like any other individual accolade is a reflection of the success the team’s having, which is the most important thing right now. We got a couple more games to go before that’s all decided I believe. That’s what’s most important in a really tight race is that we win those games, and everything that comes with that is a bonus.”