Utah Jazz vs Orlando Magic Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

Struggling Magic and Jazz Look to Start Fresh in February

The Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic have both endured a rough stretch since they last faced off nearly a month ago, but as they meet again on Saturday in Salt Lake City, both teams are hoping that the start of February brings better results.

Utah enters the game on an eight-game losing streak and has dropped 11 of its last 12, while Orlando has lost nine of its last 12. Both teams are searching for a much-needed turnaround as they try to stay competitive in their respective playoff races.

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Jazz Struggling to Find Rhythm

Utah (22-27) has been competitive at times, but they continue to fall apart in crucial moments. That trend continued in Thursday’s 138-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where the Jazz were outscored 44-22 in the third quarter after trailing by just four at halftime.

Head coach Will Hardy acknowledged the challenges of integrating players back into the lineup after injuries and illnesses disrupted the rotation.

“We’ve had a variety of lineups. It’s not as easy as just plug-and-play when guys are coming back from being injured and sick and not playing. There’s a little bit of rhythm that’s lost in those moments and guys taking different roles. Nobody feels sorry for us and we don’t feel sorry for ourselves. We just keep pushing.”

Utah has struggled to replicate the success it had in early January, when they secured back-to-back wins over Miami and Orlando. Rookie Brice Sensabaugh had breakout performances in those victories, scoring 34 points against the Heat and 27 against the Magic. However, with key players returning, his role has diminished—he played just 15 minutes against Minnesota, scoring three points.

Keyonte George led Utah with 23 points off the bench in the latest loss, while Collin Sexton added 19. Jordan Clarkson and John Collins each contributed 16, and Lauri Markkanen had 15 points but continued his shooting slump.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGJWHzH–s4

Markkanen has struggled from deep since returning from a two-week absence, shooting just 9-for-40 from three-point range over his last four games. Hardy isn’t too concerned about the Finnish forward’s struggles, believing it’s simply a matter of regaining his rhythm.

“I think Lauri’s one of those players when you’re out, your rhythm can be gone a little bit—your legs. Being rested is one thing, but there’s also the feeling of being in really good shape.”

Magic Seeking Stability on Tough Road Trip

Orlando (26-24) hasn’t fared much better than Utah since their last meeting. The Magic have lost the first two games of their six-game road trip, including a disappointing 119-90 defeat in Portland on Thursday.

Despite a strong 35-point first quarter, Orlando’s offense completely stalled, managing just 55 points the rest of the game. Franz Wagner led the team with 24 points, while Paolo Banchero added 21.

Neither Wagner nor Banchero played in the previous matchup against the Jazz due to oblique injuries, so their presence this time around should give the Magic a much-needed boost. However, Orlando’s supporting cast needs to step up to help relieve the offensive burden on its stars.

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Guard Cole Anthony emphasized that the team needs to maintain confidence and not rely too heavily on Wagner and Banchero to carry the offense.

“As a unit, we just gotta stay confident and trust our work. I think a lot of the times, myself included too, stuff starts going the wrong way and we’ll start trying to defer to Franz, defer to (Banchero), and obviously, yeah, they’re great players. They help us win a lot of games and will continue to do that, but we got to make it easier for them at times.”

What to Expect

Both teams are looking for a reset after a brutal January. The Jazz will need to avoid another third-quarter collapse, while the Magic must find a way to maintain offensive consistency throughout the game.

With Utah looking to snap an eight-game skid and Orlando hoping to turn around its road trip, this game presents an opportunity for one team to start February on a positive note. Will the Jazz finally break their losing streak at home, or can the Magic find the spark they need to get back on track? The answer awaits in Salt Lake City.