[7:10 PM] Magic @ 76ers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Orlando Magic (0-3)

@ Philadelphia 76ers (0-2)

 

Current odds:

Orlando Magic: (-200)

Philadelphia 76ers: (+170)

 

• ESPN simulations have Orlando as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Philadelphia to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is Orlando by 5 points.

• Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is two games into his NBA career and is on a strict minutes limit but has no problem telling people that his peers are the best centers in the league. Embiid will try to keep backing up that strong talk and finally put the 76ers in the win column when they host another strong center in Nikola Vucevic and the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

• Orlando brought in Bismack Biyombo to back up Vucevic and traded for veteran forward Serge Ibaka to bolster the defense along the front line, but scoring remains an issue. Evan Fournier poured in 22 points against the Cavaliers to lead the team and is pacing the Magic with an average of 16.7 points.

• Embiid’s emergence is exciting for the fans and the organization but is not being greeted with joy by incumbent center Nerlens Noel, who is yet to play this season due to an injury. Noel is one of three young centers on the roster along with Embiid and Jahlil Okafor and is reportedly not close to signing an extension with the team and could become a restricted free agent after the season. Okafor (knee) is on a minutes limit as well and is coming off the bench for now behind Embiid and is 6-of-17 from the floor in a total of 31 minutes.

• 76ers rookie F Dario Saric is 4-of-21 from the floor, including 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.

• Magic PG Elfrid Payton is averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 assists.

• Orlando took seven of the last nine in the series, including four straight at Philadelphia.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Orlando Magic

Confidence: 5/10

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