by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Where to watch: BSFL, BSIN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Magic -4.5; ORL -190, IND +160
FanDuel: Magic -4.5; ORL -196, IND +164
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Magic -5
Season record
Pacers: 23-25
Magic: 18-29
The second half of the basketball season is upon us, and what a cluster we've got in the standings right now, right? So many teams are in the playoff hunt, so many teams not expected to make the playoffs are in the process of trying to prove people wrong. You know who doesn't need to be made wrong? Our champion handicappers who have been killing it all year long. Scott Rickenbach is coming off a 5-2-0 week over the last seven days, while Doc's Sports has been efficient at 14-8-0 over the last 30 days. Do you want to get on this winning? Make sure you're following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to celebrate in these moments!
Pacers - Magic preview, prediction and analysis
The Indiana Pacers will be playing the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, January 25 in Orlando, Florida.
The Indiana Pacers lost against the Phoenix Suns last Saturday, January 21 in Phoenix, Arizona with a score of 112-107. The Indiana Pacers currently rank 3rd in the Central Division. Indiana was without its leading scorer Tyrese Haliburton, who missed his sixth straight game. The Pacers have lost seven straight.
“Getting the next win is going to be challenging,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “That is how it is in his league.”
This seven-game losing streak is just a sign of the Pacers looking for life. Without their facilitator, no matter how good McConnell has been, he doesn't provide the importance and steady ability that Haliburton brings. It's just a matter of staying afloat at this point for the Pacers.
The Orlando Magic won against the Boston Celtics Monday, January 23 in Orlando, Florida with a score of 113-98. The Orlando Magic currently rank 4th in the Southeast Division. Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, Jonathan Isaac played in an NBA game for the first time in 2 1/2 years and the Orlando Magic broke the Boston Celtics' nine-game winning streak Monday night.
“We guarded in that second half,” said Cole Anthony, who came off the Magic bench with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. “Under 100 points for a a team that’s got two guys (Tatum and Brown) averaging 60 points? That’s a heck of a job by our team.”
Wendell Carter Jr. had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who beat the Celtics for the third straight time after losing 10 straight to Boston.
“Much love to the Magic for sticking with me,” Isaac said. “And the Magic fans were excited, so I was just trying to bottle all that up in one moment. It was surreal.”
The Magic are playing .500 ball in the last 10, but getting Isaac back from that lengthy absence is going to help the perimeter defense and perhaps a third scoring option when he can get to the basket.
Prediction
If it were any other team, we'd probably think the Pacers would have a chance. But the Magic have played so well that it's not really in the cards for Indiana to have a chance. Magic 110, Pacers 99
The Indiana Pacers lost against the Phoenix Suns last Saturday, January 21 in Phoenix, Arizona with a score of 112-107. The Indiana Pacers currently rank 3rd in the Central Division. Indiana was without its leading scorer Tyrese Haliburton, who missed his sixth straight game. The Pacers have lost seven straight.
“Getting the next win is going to be challenging,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “That is how it is in his league.”
This seven-game losing streak is just a sign of the Pacers looking for life. Without their facilitator, no matter how good McConnell has been, he doesn't provide the importance and steady ability that Haliburton brings. It's just a matter of staying afloat at this point for the Pacers.
The Orlando Magic won against the Boston Celtics Monday, January 23 in Orlando, Florida with a score of 113-98. The Orlando Magic currently rank 4th in the Southeast Division. Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, Jonathan Isaac played in an NBA game for the first time in 2 1/2 years and the Orlando Magic broke the Boston Celtics' nine-game winning streak Monday night.
“We guarded in that second half,” said Cole Anthony, who came off the Magic bench with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. “Under 100 points for a a team that’s got two guys (Tatum and Brown) averaging 60 points? That’s a heck of a job by our team.”
Wendell Carter Jr. had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who beat the Celtics for the third straight time after losing 10 straight to Boston.
“Much love to the Magic for sticking with me,” Isaac said. “And the Magic fans were excited, so I was just trying to bottle all that up in one moment. It was surreal.”
The Magic are playing .500 ball in the last 10, but getting Isaac back from that lengthy absence is going to help the perimeter defense and perhaps a third scoring option when he can get to the basket.
Prediction
If it were any other team, we'd probably think the Pacers would have a chance. But the Magic have played so well that it's not really in the cards for Indiana to have a chance. Magic 110, Pacers 99
Betting trends
Pacers are 11-3 ATS in the last 14 trips to Orlando.
Over is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
Magic are 5-1 ATS in their last six overall.
Magic are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 off 1 day rest.
Pacers are 11-3 ATS in the last 14 trips to Orlando.
Over is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
Magic are 5-1 ATS in their last six overall.
Magic are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 off 1 day rest.
Projected starting lineup
Pacers:
PG: T.J. McConnell
SG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Buddy Hield
PF: Aaron Nesmith
C: Myles Turner
Magic:
PG: Markelle Fultz
SG: Gary Harris
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Wendell Carter Jr.
Injury report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (out)
Magic: None
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (out)
Magic: None
Statistical leaders
Pacers:
Points: Tyrese Haliburton -- 20.2
Rebounds: Myles Turner -- 7.8
Assists: Tyrese Haliburton -- 10.2
Magic:
Points: Paolo Banchero -- 20.7
Rebounds: Wendell Carter Jr. -- 8.7
Assists: Markelle Fultz -- 5.6
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Indiana Pacers - Orlando Magic prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
