The New York Knicks (17-13) travel to face off against the Orlando Magic (18-12) on Friday, December 29th. This game will be played at Kia Center. Both the Knicks and Magic will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

Knicks vs Magic

The Knicks Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their most recent game, the Knicks fell to the Thunder by a score of 129-120. Alongside their straight-up loss, the Knicks couldn’t cover as +3.5 point underdogs. Before the game, the over/under line was 242 points, and both teams ended up surpassing that mark.

Coming into today’s game against the Magic, the Knicks are 17-13 and are above .500. In the Eastern Conference, they are in 7th place and are 3rd in the Atlantic division.

New York has an overall ATS record of 17-13 for the season so far. This season, New York has a 10-5 record against the spread when they are the favorites, and they are 7-8 as underdogs.

The Magic Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Magic’s most recent game versus the 76ers saw Franz Wagner lead the Magic with 24 points while shooting 8/16 from the field. Jalen Suggs added 20 points, but unfortunately, Orlando was defeated in the game with a score of 112-92.

So far, the Magic are 18-12 overall and are 2-1 in their last three games. In their 30 games, the Magic are 13-9 against Eastern Conference teams and 5-3 in non-conference games.

Orlando is currently performing above .500 against the spread with an ATS record of 20-10. This season, Orlando has a 9-3 record against the spread when they are the favorites, and they are 11-7 as underdogs.

Knicks Offense Breakdown

Through 30 games the Knicks are averaging 115.2 points per contest, placing them 15th in the NBA. One area that the New York offense is finding success, is their ability to get to the free-throw line. So far, the team is averaging 18.8 made free-throws per contest. New York is a strong candidate to see their overall offensive numbers improve, as not only are they a good outside shooting unit, but they do a good job taking care of the ball, ranking 7th in fewest turnovers per game.

Magic Offense Breakdown

In 30 games games, Orlando has an average of 112.9 points per game (22nd). Coming into today’s game, the Magic will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 10 made 3’s per game. If the Orlando offense is going to turn things around, not only do they need to improve their outside shooting but they must do a better job protecting the ball. Currently, they are averaging 14 turnovers per game.

Knicks Team Defense

On defense, the Knicks come into the game ranked 11th in the league in points allowed at 112.9 per game. Over their last three games, the team is allowing 127 points per contest (22nd). The New York defense has allowed opponents to shoot 37.5% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 47.8% of their field goal attempts vs. New York.

Magic Team Defense

The Magic’s defense is presently ranked 6th in the league, allowing an average of 110.7 points per contest. Inside the arc, the Magic defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 53.7% and 36.8% from three-point territory.

Key Players For The Knicks And Magic

For today’s matchup, we project Jalen Brunson to lead the scoring for the Knicks, putting up 22 points and shooting at a rate of 8/15. During this season, he is delivering an average of 26 points per game, along with 4 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place Paolo Banchero as the leading scorer for the Magic. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 17 while also collecting 5 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 46.2%, and he is contributing 21.2 points per game on average.

Knicks vs Magic Trends

• When looking at their past five road matchups, New York has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 123 per game. The team went 3-2 overall in these games.
• The Magic are 3-0 ATS in their last three home games and 2-1 straight-up.
• As the betting underdog, the Knicks have an ATS mark of just 4-6 in their last ten games. New York posted a straight up mark of 4-6 in these matchups.
• Orlando has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.

Knicks vs Magic Prediction

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +2, the Knicks is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 227.5 and our model has the Knicks and Magic finishing with a combined 223 points. Our pick is to take the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.