7:10 pm
November 13

Wizards @ Magic

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Wizards (8-3)

@ Orlando Magic (3-9)

 

Current odds:

Washington Wizards: (-180)

Orlando Magic: (+155)

 

• The spread for the game is Washington by 4 points.

• The Wizards secured their eighth win on Wednesday in Cleveland, defeating the Cavaliers 97-94 as offseason acquisition Kyle Kuzma hit six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points. Kuzma made two triples during the final 26 seconds to help Washington erase a 93-89 deficit. Montrezl Harrell had 24 points and 11 rebounds off the bench and Bradley Beal contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Wizards, who improved to 7-3 against Eastern Conference opponents. Beal, who is averaging 23.3 points per game, admittedly struggled against Cleveland after his grandmother’s passing.

• “We’ve seen this at times, early in these 11 games,” Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “The resilience this group has shown whether we’re down a few guys or we haven’t played well. We find a way somehow – whether it’s on the offensive end or defensive end – to gut them out.” Washington continues to shine defensively, holding its past three opponents under 95 points. Entering Friday, the Wizards ranked fourth in defensive rating (102.9).

• Orlando lost three of the first four games on its current home stretch, including Wednesday’s 123-90 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets. The Magic are shooting 33 percent from 3-point range, but they made only four of their 33 attempts against Brooklyn. It also marked the first time this season that second-year guard Cole Anthony did not make a 3-pointer. Anthony, however, scored 10 points for his 12th consecutive game in double figures. Franz Wagner had 10 points and seven rebounds against Brooklyn. The former Michigan Wolverine also totaled six steals, one short of Jameer Nelson’s single-game Orlando rookie record.

• Orlando entered the season with nine players who are 23 years of age or younger, and the team’s overall playing experience against veteran lineups is limited. Terrence Ross, who reached 7,000 career points by scoring a team-high 17 against Brooklyn, addressed that postgame Wednesday after the Nets outscored the Magic in every quarter. The Magic are 1-5 at the Amway Center and the lone victory – 107-100 over the Utah Jazz on Nov. 7 – required a double-digit, fourth-quarter comeback.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Washington Wizards
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