Orlando Magic vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena — Oklahoma City, OK
When: Sunday, November 13, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Orlando Magic (+9) at Oklahoma City Thunder (-9); total 203.5 – view all NBA lines
Writer’s Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder (-9)
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Betting on the Orlando Magic (+9)
The Magic are having a miserable start to the season. They are 3-6 in their first nine games, and have lost their last three in a row by an average margin of 20 points per game.
The team’s offensive struggles have been apparent for some time now, and they haven’t improved at all. Their two-big lineups which feature two of Nikola Vucevic, Serge Ibaka, and Bismack Biyombo, along with non-shooters in Aaron Gordon and Elfried Payton just haven’t clicked. Their 92.3 points per game is dead last in the league.
Meanwhile, the defense which new head coach Frank Vogel has been known for also hasn’t been there. The Magic are the only team in the NBA that’s in the bottom five of both offensive and defensive rating.
The Magic are 1-3 (SU and ATS) on the road this season. However, they are an appalling 4-16 (7-13 ATS) in their last 20 road games dating back to last season.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder (-9)
The Thunder’s hot start has been slowed down a bit following back-to-back home losses. They are now 6-3 (5-4 ATS) on the season. Granted, those two consecutive defeats have come against the Raptors and Clippers, who might be two of the six best teams in the league.
The Clippers, in particular, have been the most impressive team thus far this season, and the Thunder pushed them all the way in a 110-108 loss. Russell Westbrook had another huge game with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, but missed a potential game-winning three as time expired.
Victor Oladipo is settling in as Westbrook’s running mate. Dipo hasn’t shot the ball particularly well, but he has been stroking it quite well from three. He’s averaging 18 points and has hit 9-of-17 from beyond the arc in his last two games.
The Thunder haven’t exactly been the most efficient offense, and are currently just 26th in offensive rating. However, their defense has been lights out, giving up just 98.3 points per 100 possessions (4th in the NBA). That defense should only get better as it takes on the awful Magic offense that simply cannot space the floor.
Writer’s Prediction
The Thunder (-9) blow the Magic out, 108-89.
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