On Monday night, the Orlando Magic are heavily favored against the Portland Trail Blazers, who have experienced a nine-game losing streak.
Portland is currently dealing with numerous injuries, with key players like Anfernee Simons, Malcolm Brogdon, Jerami Grant, and Shaedon Sharpe either sidelined or doubtful for the upcoming matchup.
Sitting at the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Magic aim to secure a victory to narrow the gap between themselves and the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers in the standings.
The question looms: Can Orlando maintain their impressive record of covering the spread, having succeeded in 17 out of 22 attempts as home favorites?
The game is scheduled for Monday, April 1, at 7:00 p.m. EST at the Kia Center. The Blazers hold a record of 19-55, while the Magic stand at 43-31.
Injury reports indicate several key players absent for both teams. Notably, the Blazers are without Brogdon, Camara, Grant, Minaya, Sharpe, Simons, Thybulle, and Williams III, while the Magic have Harris, Howard, and Queen listed as available.
Key players to watch include Deandre Ayton for the Blazers, expected to shoulder much of the offensive load given the team’s depleted lineup. Meanwhile, the Magic will be counting on Franz Wagner to step up his performance, especially considering his struggles in March.
The prediction favors the Magic, particularly given their recent dominant performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. With Portland facing significant challenges due to injuries and their lackluster performance in recent games, it’s unlikely they’ll pose a significant threat to Orlando, especially given the Magic’s strong home record.
