After losing two games in a row, the Orlando Magic's injury problems have been apparent in their games. The fact that they have only won two of their last seven games has also been concerning.
In their most recent game against the Boston Celtics, the Magic's formidable defense was caught off guard, as they lost 121-94 on the road.
Paolo Banchero once again showed off his skills, scoring 21 points, while point guard Cole Anthony led the squad with 23 points.
Conversely, the Denver Nuggets have been dominating. They presently have a five-game winning run on the road and have won five of their previous six games.
The Nuggets dominated the first half against the Miami Heat on Friday, putting up an impressive 67 points. Over their last three games, Denver has built a solid +5.7 first-half scoring margin.
Even with Orlando's scrappy defense, it's hard to bet against Nikola Jokic and a Denver offense that ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage and third in points per game.
The Magic have struggled recently, losing four of their last five outings, and they’re still without Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Adding to their challenges, Goga Bitadze is sidelined with a hip injury, leaving their frontcourt vulnerable—an area where Jokic is likely to thrive.
On the other hand, Denver gets a boost with Aaron Gordon returning to the lineup against his former team, ready to take on the key matchup against Paolo Banchero.
The Nuggets are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games, and with momentum building, they look primed for another strong performance as they push forward in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
Michael Malone's team is fourth in the Western Conference with a +4.4 point differential and the third-best offense in the league in terms of points per game, despite all the criticism about the Denver Nuggets' slow start and struggling supporting cast. In other words, the 2023 champions will be heard.
Given that the Orlando Magic are coming off two crushing defeats, Denver, which has won five of its previous six games, seems to be in a strong position. With the Magic having a 14-7 record at home, I'm a little hesitant to lay the entire spread, but this comparatively tiny first-half spread stands out as a good value.
After losing two games in a row, the Orlando Magic's injury problems have been apparent in their games. The fact that they have only won two of their last seven games has also been concerning.
In their most recent game against the Boston Celtics, the Magic's formidable defense was caught off guard, as they lost 121-94 on the road.
Paolo Banchero once again showed off his skills, scoring 21 points, while point guard Cole Anthony led the squad with 23 points.
Conversely, the Denver Nuggets have been dominating. They presently have a five-game winning run on the road and have won five of their previous six games.
