Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks Picks and Predictions December 27th 2024

Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks December 27th 2024

At 7:00 ET, the Knicks (-269) will travel to take on the Magic (+222) in a matchup between two Eastern Conference teams. New York is currently 3rd in the East, while Orlando is 4th. The Knicks are favored by 7 points, and the over/under line is set at 212.

This game will be played at the Kia Center in Orlando and can be seen on MSG.

Knicks vs. Magic Key Information

The Knicks improved to 20-10 this season with a 117-114 win over the Spurs on Christmas Day. New York was favored by 8.5 points at home but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total score of 231 points went over the line of 222.5.

San Antonio went on a 10-0 run early, but the Knicks responded with a strong 3rd quarter, outscoring the Spurs 37-25. New York entered the 4th quarter with an 88-83 lead and held on, despite being outscored 31-29 in the final period.

Mikal Bridges led the Knicks to a win over the Spurs on Wednesday, scoring 41 points and hitting 6 threes at a 66.7% clip. He was especially effective in the 4th quarter, scoring 15 points. Overall, the Knicks shot 45% from the field and 33.3% from three, making 13 threes.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points, with 11 coming in the 3rd quarter. Jalen Brunson contributed 20 points, despite shooting just 30.4%, and also had 11 points in the 3rd. Josh Hart scored 6 of his 12 points in the final period.

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Despite allowing 114 points on 50% shooting from the field, the Knicks managed to hold off the Spurs on Wednesday. New York gave up 27 points in the 1st quarter and 31 in both the 2nd and 4th, but they tightened up defensively in the 3rd, allowing just 25 points.

The Knicks struggled to contain the Spurs from beyond the arc, where San Antonio hit 16 threes on 42% shooting. New York sent the Spurs to the line 17 times, where they made 14 free throws. The Knicks finished with 30 defensive rebounds, allowing 8 offensive boards, and added 7 steals and 3 blocks.

The Magic fell to 19-13 on the season after a narrow 89-88 loss to the Heat on Thursday. Orlando, favored by 1 point, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 177 fell well short of the 208.5 O/U line.

Orlando started strong, going on a 14-0 run and leading 71-61 heading into the 4th quarter. However, the Heat outscored them 28-17 in the final period to complete the comeback.

In Thursday’s 89-88 loss to the Heat, the Magic’s offense struggled, managing just 88 points. Their three-point shooting was particularly poor, hitting only 5 threes at a 17.2% clip.

Jalen Suggs led the way with 29 points, including 12 in the 1st quarter, despite shooting 18.2% from beyond the arc. Tristan Da Silva added 18 points, contributing 7 in the opening period.

Despite a strong defensive performance, the Magic couldn’t secure the win, allowing 89 points to the Heat. They gave up 22 points in the 1st quarter, 19 in the 2nd, and 20 in the 3rd, but a 28-point 4th quarter from the Heat sealed the loss.

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Orlando held Miami to 40% shooting but struggled to defend the three, where the Heat hit 15 threes at a 50% clip. The Magic sent Miami to the line 14 times, where they made 12 free throws. Orlando also recorded 12 steals and 6 blocks.

• Through their last ten home contests, the Magic offense has averaged 105 points per game while allowing an average of 103. Orlando posted an overall record of 6-4 while going 6-4 ATS.
• Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Magic have a straight up record of 2-8. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-6.
• In their last three games, the Magic have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

Our bet is on the Knicks for a win, and we project the score to be 137-77. Additionally, we expect them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to wager on the Knicks with the spread at -7.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 212, and our model predicts the Knicks and Magic to score a combined 214 points. We recommend betting on the over.

December Wins Keep Coming for Knicks, Who Visit Magic Next

The New York Knicks aim to extend their sizzling December run as they face the Orlando Magic on Friday night to kick off a three-game road trip.

Knicks Riding High in December

The Knicks have won 15 of their last 19 games, including nine of 11 this month. Their two victories over the Magic in December have showcased their dominance. Karl-Anthony Towns shined in both contests, tallying 23 points and 15 rebounds in a 121-106 home win on Dec. 3, and following that with a 22-point, 22-rebound effort in a 100-91 victory in Orlando on Dec. 15.

Mikal Bridges was the star of New York’s 117-114 Christmas Day win over the San Antonio Spurs. Bridges poured in a season-high 41 points, shooting a blistering 17-of-25 from the field and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.

“I think we took a jump this month,” Bridges said, per the New York Post. “Every day we just keep trying to get better. We want to win. That’s the main goal. But sometimes just getting better is what we’re looking for.”

Bridges has been on fire in December, averaging 22.7 points on 57.7 percent shooting from the floor and 46.9 percent from 3-point range. This marks a significant leap from his 15.5 points per game before the month began.

“They say slow and steady wins the race, and that’s what he’s been,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “If you look at his whole career, he just keeps getting better and better and better. He’s hard to put in a box because he does everything.”

Magic Searching for Consistency

While the Knicks are surging, the Magic have struggled, losing four of their last six games. On Thursday night, Orlando squandered an early 17-point lead and fell to the Miami Heat, 89-88.

Jalen Suggs led the Magic with 29 points, but his potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer rimmed out. The Magic’s shooting woes were glaring, as they made just 5-of-29 attempts from 3-point range.

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Rookie Tristan da Silva has emerged as a bright spot for Orlando, scoring 18 points in consecutive games while stepping up in Franz Wagner’s absence due to an oblique injury.

“He’s had to step up with some bodies going down,” Suggs said of da Silva. “He is taking everything head held high, with the utmost confidence and staying even-keeled throughout mistakes, good games and bad games.”

The Matchup

New York will look to leverage its recent momentum and continue its dominance over Orlando this season. The Magic, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back and find consistency, especially with Wagner still sidelined.

The Knicks’ balanced offense, spearheaded by Bridges and Towns, makes them a tough challenge for an Orlando team looking for answers in a tough stretch.