On Tuesday, the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks meet for the second time during the 2022-23 season. The Knicks won the first meeting in October, and New York is 29-26 overall and 15-11 on the road this season. The Magic are 22-32 overall, including three wins in the last four games, and Orlando is 13-13 at home in 2022-23. RJ Barrett (illness) is questionable to play for New York, with Mitchell Robinson (thumb) ruled out. Mo Bamba (suspension) is out for Orlando.
Caesars Sportsbook lists New York as a 1.5-point road favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 225 in the latest Knicks vs. Magic odds. Before locking in any Magic vs. Knicks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 52-28 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Magic and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines and trends for Magic vs. Knicks:
- Knicks vs. Magic spread: Knicks -1.5
- Knicks vs. Magic over/under: 225 points
- Knicks vs. Magic money line: Knicks -120, Magic +100
- NYK: The Knicks are 17-9 against the spread in road games
- ORL: The Magic are 16-10 against the spread in home games
- Knicks vs. Magic picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Knicks can cover
New York is strong on both sides of the floor this season. The Knicks are leading the NBA in points allowed in the paint (44.6 per game), and New York is in the top five in field goal percentage allowed and fast break points allowed this season. Opponents are shooting only 53% from 2-point range and 35% from 3-point range against New York, and Orlando is No. 25 or worse in offensive rating (111.6), turnover rate (15.2%), and assists (22.6 per game).
On the offensive side, New York is in the top five in offensive rebound rate (32.4%), second-chance points (17.4 per game), turnover rate (13.1%), and free throw attempts (25. 8 per game). The Knicks have three players averaging more than 20 points per game, and Orlando is No. 28 in 2-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 57% inside the arc. New York has the best against-the-spread record on the road (17-9), and the Knicks project well against the Magic.
Why the Magic can cover
The Magic have encouraging metrics on the defensive end of the floor. Orlando is holding opponents to only 35% shooting from 3-point range this season, ranking No. 6 in the NBA. The Magic are also in the top eight in second-chance points allowed (13.1 per game) and points allowed in the paint (13.1 per game). Orlando secures well over 72% of available defensive rebounds, and it gives up only 23.4 free throw attempts per game. New York is in the bottom third of the NBA in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, 2-point percentage and assists per game, and those shortcomings make things easier for Orlando's defense.
On the other end, the Magic have intriguing young talent, ranking in the top five of the NBA in free throw creation, generating 25.8 attempts per game. The Magic are also physical and athletic, leading to 14.7 second-chance points per game in 2022-23.
How to make Knicks vs. Magic picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, with five players projected to score more than 19 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Knicks vs. Magic? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Knicks vs. Magic spread you need to jump on Tuesday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
