The Orlando Magic head to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Thursday night at 8:00 PM ET. Can the Magic cover the 8.5-point spread as road underdogs? Keep reading for our Magic vs. Bucks betting prediction.
The Orlando Magic are 16-10 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 17-9 ATS this season.
The Milwaukee Bucks are 20-7 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 12-14-1 ATS this season.
Magic vs. Bucks Matchup & Betting Odds
511 Orlando Magic (+8.5) at 512 Milwaukee Bucks (-8.5); o/u 238.5
8:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, December 21, 2023
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Magic vs. Bucks Public Betting Information
Our NBA Public Betting Information page indicates that 80% of public bettors are currently backing the Bucks when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Orlando Magic Daily Fantasy Spin
Magic point guard Markelle Fultz won’t play Thursday night against the Bucks. He has been out for several weeks with left knee tendinitis but could be back before the end of the month. Fultz is averaging 11.4 points and 4.0 assists per game in 5 starts for Orlando this season.
Orlando shooting guard Joe Ingles sat out his team’s game on Wednesday with a left ankle sprain, and he’s questionable for Thursday’s road tilt with Milwaukee. Ingles is averaging 4.9 points and 3.4 assists per game in 18.2 minutes per contest this year.
Milwaukee Bucks Daily Fantasy Spin
Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable for Thursday’s game with a right midfoot sprain. Antetokounmpo is Milwaukee’s best player and is averaging 30.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game this year. He currently has the fifth-best odds to win the NBA MVP award according to FanDuel.com. If Giannis is unable to play, Bucks sixth man Bobby Portis would be a prime candidate to slide into the starting lineup in his stead.
Magic vs. Bucks NBA Betting Trends
Orlando is 11-7 ATS in conference games this season.
Orlando is 5-2 ATS with the rest disadvantage this season.
Milwaukee is 1-4 ATS with the rest advantage this year. That’s the second-worst mark in the league.
Milwaukee is 7-9-1 ATS when playing on 1 day of rest this season.
Magic vs. Bucks NBA Prediction:
The injury status of Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo could loom large over this game. Giannis is the Bucks’ best offensive and defensive player and provides them with a massive boost on both sides of the ball. If he can’t play, that could definitely hinder Milwaukee’s chances of covering this contest.
Orlando is playing on the second night of a back-to-back in Milwaukee on Thursday night, but they’re a young team, so that shouldn’t be much of an issue. The Magic have 12 players that average at least 13 minutes per game this season, and that should help them against a Milwaukee team that largely uses an eight-man rotation. A few numbers also help make the case for the Magic. Orlando is 14-7 ATS in non-division games this season and they are 9-7 ATS as an underdog this year. In a contrarian play, I like Orlando to cover the number on the road in this one.
