NBA Betting Odds: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Top Thunder Player to follow vs Magic

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Two rising powers in the NBA meet on Tuesday night in a very interesting matchup as the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Orlando Magic – it also features the top two picks from the 2022 draft. 2024 NBA Expert Analysis Oklahoma City vs Orlando | MyBookie Sportsbook NBA Week 17

It likely won’t be an NBA Finals preview in 2024, but it could be as soon as 2025. The Thunder are short favorites on the NBA odds.

How to Bet Thunder at Magic NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Kia Center
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Thunder -1 (total TBA)

Thunder vs Magic Last Meeting

The teams met on Jan. 13 in OKC and the Thunder prevailed 112-100 behind 37 points from star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He was fouled six times on made baskets and made all six free throws. Overall, SGA missed all four of his 3-point tries, but was 13 of 16 inside the arc and made 11 of 12 free throws. The Thunder made just 8 of 36 3-pointers. Paolo Banchero had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Magic, who were without starters Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz due to injury. It was the first regular-season matchup between the first two picks of the 2022 draft in Banchero and No. 2 Chet Holmgren of the Thunder. Orlando also has lost eight of the last 12 meetings at home in the series.

Why Bet on Oklahoma City Thunder?

The Thunder ended a two-game losing streak on Sunday in impressive fashion with a 127-113 win over Sacramento. The Kings have struggled in recent weeks to prevent larger wings from going downhill in the painted area. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams took advantage of that distinction on Sunday, repeatedly pirouetting through the lane.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points, seven assists and three rebounds. SGA ended a streak of three consecutive games of not scoring at least 30 points. He remained efficient, shooting better than 50% from the field. Williams shot 13-of-19 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line to finish with 32 points along with nine assists and seven rebounds. One assist shy of his first double-double since January 10 vs. Miami, Williams’ 32 points were the most he’s tallied in a game since December 27 (36 vs. New York), and he’s scored 20 or more in four of his last five. With the win, the Thunder snapped Sacramento’s eight-game win streak over OKC, dating back to December of 2021.

Head coach Mark Daigneault said center Bismack Biyombo will sit out Tuesday’s game in Orlando and won’t make his Thunder debut until after the All-Star break. The veteran center signed with the Thunder over the weekend and will get some extended time to get acclimated with his new club before making his debut.

Biyombo could unseat Jaylin Williams for the top backup role behind starting center Chet Holmgren, who is averaging 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 blocks in his rookie season. Prior to being waived by Memphis in January, Biyombo appeared in 30 games and averaged 5.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game.

“He has a very clear identity that he’s forged over a period of time and plays to it very consistently,” Daigneault said. “He knows exactly who he is and what value he can bring to the team. He’s someone that will integrate easily with a team.”

Oklahoma City ranks top-three in the league in field goal percentage (t-2nd, 49.9), free throw percentage (1st, 83.0), and three-point percentage (3rd, 39.3). No other team ranks in the top five in all three. OKC ranks 5th in offensive rating (119.1) and 5th in defensive rating (112.0), leading to OKC holding the second-best net rating in the league (7.2).

Gilgeous-Alexander is currently averaging 31.1 points per game on 54.8 percent shooting from the field. On top of his scoring frenzy, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and a league-leading 2.2 steals per game. No player in NBA history has averaged 30+ points on 55.0 percent shooting and 2.5+ steals.

Why Bet on Orlando Magic?

Orlando won its second game in a row Saturday, 114-108 in OT over visiting Chicago. Franz Wagner led the way with 36 points, five assists and three rebounds in 44 minutes. Wagner has been on a tear of late, scoring 30 or more points in three of his last four appearances and showing he didn’t miss a beat despite being sidelined for eight games in January due to an ankle injury. He’s been averaging 22.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in 11 outings since returning.

In his second straight 30-point game, Wagner scored off an offensive rebound for the first basket in OT after the Bulls staged a late comeback. They tied it on DeMar DeRozan’s three-point play with 45.9 seconds left in regulation, but the Magic held the lead throughout overtime.

Paolo Banchero recorded 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Banchero is averaging 20.2 points, 6.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game across five outings in February. The All-Star has led (or tied) the team in scoring 28 times, in rebounding 17 times and in assists 26 times. This season, he’s been taking more shots and making more from distance, increasing his percentage from 29.8 to 35.9 percent as a rookie.

“We talk about it often and he’ll tell you and it’s the truth, he’s going to make the right play,” said coach Jamahl Mosley. “He’s always trying to make the right play, whatever that looks like. A lot of people see the double team and him dragging it out a little long. He’s trying to find the right play, and he makes the right play.”

Banchero is the ninth player in Magic history to be named an NBA All-Star, joining Shaquille O’Neal (1993-96), Anfernee Hardaway (1995-98), Tracy McGrady (2001-04), Grant Hill (2001, 2005), Dwight Howard (2007-12), Rashard Lewis (2009), Jameer Nelson (2009) and Nikola Vučević (2019, 2021).

Cole Anthony finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. He has been part of the reason why the Magic’s second unit can impact games in more ways than one but the backup point guard has recently failed to find his footing on offense compared to earlier in the year. He pointed out the defense was the difference vs. Chicago. The team is top five in the NBA in points allowed.

“We have such a talented group, and we just have such a will on that defensive end that you just want to guard and not let that person in front of us, you know, score or whatever it is; make a play,” Anthony said. “It’s just such a pride on that defensive end, and I think that really showed down the stretch tonight.”

Saturday was Orlando’s 29th win of the season in its 53rd game. The Magic did not record their 29th victory last season until March 18 – in their 71st game. Orlando is 17-7 this season at home.

The Magic are averaging 111.6 ppg this season. They have scored 100+ points 45 times (27-18 record), 110+ points 28 times (21-7 record), 120+ points 13 times (11-2 record) and 130+ points four times (3-1 record), including a season-high 139 points on Nov. 29 vs. Washington. Orlando is shooting .348 from three-point range this season and made 10+ three-pointers 33 times (18-15 record), including an NBA-season-high-tying and franchise-record 25 three-pointers on Jan. 3 at Sacramento.

Thunder vs Magic Expert Prediction

Thunder 115, Magic 112

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