The NBA Play-In tournament continues on Wednesday, following an exciting start to the week with two close finishes.
In tonight’s matchup in the East, the No. 7 seed 76ers host the No. 8 Magic in Philadelphia.
Both teams enter with identical 45-37 records, a reflection of the injury issues that plagued both rosters throughout the season.
Oddsmakers consider this a highly competitive game, with the Sixers favored by only 1.5 points on the spread at bet365 Sportsbook.
Magic vs. 76ers prediction, best bet
Orlando maintained strong control of the sixth seed as Franz Wagner and Anthony Black rejoined Jahmal Mosley’s lineup for their late-season push.
The team, at full strength with Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane, achieved a five-game winning streak that extended through April.
Things appeared to be heading in the right direction, but unfortunately, everything went wrong at the worst possible time.
Facing a crucial must-win game to improve their playoff standing, they couldn’t defeat the Celtics in the final game of the season.
To make matters worse, the Celtics essentially played their G-League affiliate team in the loss, as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and other main rotation players were resting.
The defeat highlighted the Magic’s recurring problems of lackadaisical defensive effort, poor shot selection, and excessive turnovers.
Given how poorly the Magic performed in their last game, this 1.5 line seems somewhat skewed, but they are technically the healthier team.
Tyrese Maxey is expected to take on a bigger role with Joel Embiid sidelined again due to injury, something the perennial All-Star has become accustomed to.
In 35 games without him this season, Maxey has clearly embraced his role as the top offensive option, averaging 28.1 points and 5.7 assists.
With Paul George back from suspension, Kelly Oubre, and rookie V.J. Edgecombe also in the mix for Nick Nurse, this almost seems like a sure thing for the Sixers.
However, Tuesday’s collection of games demonstrated that the Play-In atmosphere is intense and often boils down to the final possessions, leading to critical moments.
Betting on the NBA?
With a strong 19-8 ATS record this season when favored at home, I’m taking the Sixers to take care of business and clinch the 7th seed.
Although the team seems to be intact, the Magic sometimes appear out of sync with their coach, which is concerning.
They’re also winless (0-5) in their last five road games against teams above .500.
The Play: 76ers moneyline (-124, FanDuel)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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