Coming off back-to-back losses, the Los Angeles Lakers desperately need a win to keep up with the loaded Western Conference as they cross the country to take on the Orlando Magic.
With LeBron James back in action after shaking off the rust in a loss to the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles is poised to get back on track in the race for the two-seed in the West.
My Lakers vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks for Monday, March 24 expect James and Luka Doncic to pull out a road win against Orlando’s tough defense.
Lakers vs Magic prediction
My best bet: Lakers -4.5 (-105 at bet365)
My analysis
Luka Doncic has taken the Los Angeles Lakers to the next level as LeBron James pushes for his second ring in the City of Angels. That’s coincided with L.A. having the fifth-best cover rate in the NBA (56.5%) and the team going 12-8 ATS since acquiring the five-time All-Star from the Dallas Mavericks.
Obviously, the Lakers’ last two times on the hardwood weren’t particularly pretty with the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls both blowing them out. But in the four games before those losses, L.A. outscored opponents 478-444 and covered in all four games, three of which as the favorite.
This Lakers team is a well-rounded, legit Western Conference Finals contender with Doncic helping lift the offense to 12th in the NBA in rating, ninth in field-goal percentage (47.8%), and fourth in made free throws per game (18.1). It has the goods to take over in the Kia Center.
Although the Orlando Magic have one of the best defenses in the NBA, Jamahl Mosley’s team is fighting to climb out of the NBA Play-In zone and into an actual playoff spot in the East. The Magic have been sporadic due, in part, to injuries, and have just a 47.1% cover rate, which includes going 19-30 ATS since early December.
Orlando’s offense is just flat-out ugly. It’s last in the league in points per game (104.8) and third-last in offensive rating (108.5) while sitting 27th in field goal percentage (44.1%), 30th in 3-pointers per game (10.9), and 30th in assists per game (22.8).
The Magic will have all kinds of trouble scoring on the Lakers, with JJ Redick’s squad ranking 11th in points allowed (111.9) and giving up the ninth-lowest field goal percentage in the league (46.2%), including the third-lowest 3-point percentage (35%).
Even with Orlando’s defense likely slowing Doncic & Co. to some extent, the Magic don’t have the firepower to keep up in what I’m expecting to be a 112-105 win for the Lakers.
Lakers vs Magic same-game parlay
Lakers -4.5
Luka Doncic Over 28.5 points
Cory Joseph Under 1.5 threes
It wasn’t the most electric start for Doncic with the Lakers, but boy has he settled into form with his new team. The 26-year-old scored fewer than 20 points in four of his first five games in the gold and purple, and it hasn’t happened again since.
Doncic has put up at least 29 in nine of his last 11 games while averaging 31.1 PPG. And for as strong as Orlando’s defense is, it hasn’t been quite as good at slowing point guards, allowing the 10th-most PPG to them in the league (24.91).
A team that has slowed lead guards well is the Lakers, which is why the 33-year-old Cory Joseph likely won’t do much damage. L.A. is allowing the ninth-fewest made 3-pointers per game to point guards this season (3.03).
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Lakers vs Magic odds
Lakers vs Magic live odds
Lakers vs Magic opening odds
- Spread: Los Angeles -4.5 (-110) | Orlando +4.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Los Angeles -180 | Orlando +150
- Over/Under: Over 214.5 (-110) | Under 214.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Lakers vs Magic spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Lakers opened as a 4.5-point favorite with the line seeing minimal movement at most sportsbooks.
- Los Angeles is one of the best ATS teams this season at 39-30-1 with Orlando being in the bottom half of the league at 33-37-1.
- The Over/Under opened as low as 213.5 but has slowly been rising since Sunday night and is now as high as 216.5.
- The Lakers haven’t been a good Over bet at just 34-36 and the Magic are even worse at 29-42.
Lakers vs Magic trend
The Los Angeles Lakers have covered the spread in 31 of their last 48 games (+13.40 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Magic.
How to watch Lakers vs Magic
| Location | Kia Center, Orlando, FL |
| Date | Monday, 3-24-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FanDuel Sports Network - Florida, Spectrum SportsNet |
Lakers vs Magic latest injuries
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