Magic vs. Thunder Prediction and Odds for Tuesday, November 1 (Trust OKC to Cover at Home)
By Peter Dewey
The Oklahoma City Thunder have upset the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks in back-to-back games, and now they find themselves as home favorites on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic.
Last season, the Thunder were favored at home just three times, going 2-1 against the spread in those games. With Orlando banged up at the guard position (Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs are all hurt), the Magic have gotten out to a 1-6 start this season.
Suggs (questionable) could return tonight, but is his presence enough to slow down this OKC team that is playing well even without Josh Giddey? I’m not so sure.
The Thunder have covered in five of their six games this season while Orlando is just 2-4-1 against the spread.
Let’s jump into the odds for this early-season matchup:
Magic vs. Thunder Odds, Spread and Total
Magic vs. Thunder Prediction and Pick
The Thunder have been an extremely profitable team to bet on the last few seasons, going 48-30-4 ATS last season and 5-1 so far in the 2022-23 campaign.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has dominated to start this season, averaging 31 points per game after dropping 38 on the Mavericks in the Thunder’s most recent win.
He’s going to be a matchup nightmare for the Magic, especially if the team is forced to play forward-heavy lineups with so many guards injured.
Magic rookie, Paolo Banchero, has been everything the team could have asked for with the No. 1 pick, but it hasn’t translated to wins early in this season. Orlando ranks 27th in offensive rating and 17th in defensive rating this season.
On the other hand, OKC is 26th in offense but seventh in defense. This young Thunder team battles, and I think they have the firepower behind SGA to win and cover at home on Tuesday.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.