Raptors vs Magic Picks and Predictions: Gettin' Spicy in Orlando

The Toronto Raptors appear to be peaking at the right time as the NBA regular season winds down. They are healthy and have won 10 of their last 12 games as they continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standings.

But can they carry that momentum over into Friday night’s matchup against the Orlando Magic? While the Raps have been playing well, they have struggled when laying big chalk all season long. Can Toronto focus and cover as double-digit favorites, or will Orlando sparkle as big dogs?

Find out in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Raptors vs. Magic on April 1.

(Editor’s Note: On April 4th, sports betting in Ontario shifts from a grey market to a regulated market. Get all the information you need ahead of this change with our Ontario sports betting guide.)

Raptors vs Magic odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Raptors opened this Eastern Conference clash as 9.5-point favorites and have been steadily bet since then, moving the line as high as 11.5 at some books. The total hit the board at 218.5 and has been bet down to 216.5 by the time of this writing.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Raptors vs Magic predictions

• Prediction: Magic +11.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 216.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Siakam Over 8.5 rebounds (-104)

Predictions made on 04/01/2022 at 3:20 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Raptors vs Magic game info

• Location: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
• Date: Friday, April 1, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Florida, Sportsnet

Raptors vs Magic betting preview

Key injuries

Raptors: None.
Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. PF (Out), Jalen Suggs PG (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Under is 5-1 in the Raptors' last six games as a road favorite and 5-1 in the Magic's last six games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Magic.

Raptors vs Magic picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

The Raptors are playing their best basketball at the best possible time, winning 10 of their last 12 games straight up while going 9-3 against the spread. The team is mostly healthy and is suddenly just two games out of the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Pascal Siakam is making a strong case for an All-NBA selection by averaging 25.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.1 steals over that 12-game stretch. Scottie Barnes is also making a late push for Rookie of the Year. And Fred VanVleet is finally not on the injury report and their starting five is intact once again.

Plus, the tenacious defense the Raptors are known for is back in top form, ranking third in defensive rating since the start of March. 

Meanwhile, the Magic come into this one losers of four in a row and seven of nine, going 3-6 ATS over that stretch. And they will be without both Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs for this matchup. Even though their defense has been much improved lately, the Magic just lack players who can consistently get buckets and these injuries certainly don’t help.

All that said, a common theme for the Raptors has been that they play up and down to the level of their competition and that has caused them problems when it comes to cover spreads as large favorites. In fact, they are just 5-11 ATS when laying 7.5 points or more this season and that includes going 0-2 ATS against the Magic.

All common sense says the Raps run away with this one, but we’re leaning towards taking all those points with the home team.

Prediction: Magic +11.5 (-110 at bet365)

Over/Under analysis

While it’s easy to see this game go a couple of different ways in terms of the spread, the total might be the safer bet to look at. And even though we may have lost the best number, the Under 216.5 looks like the way to go.

As noted, the Raptors defense is playing at a high level. They also are among the league leaders in steals and deflections and have given up the second-fewest points per game since the start of March at just 105.9. 

Now, they’ll go against a Magic team missing two of its best offensive players in Carter and Suggs, which isn’t good news for a team that ranks dead last in the NBA when it comes to offensive rating since the start of March, scoring just 105.8 points per game.

But the Magic have played better at the defensive end of the floor, ranking seventh in defensive rating since the start of March, giving up 113.2 points per contest. And while the Raptors are playing well, they still rank 28th in effective field goal percentage since March 1.

Mix in the Raptors' slow pace of play, which they tend to force their opponents to play at, and this one has a great chance to go Under.

Prediction: Under 216.5 (-110 at bet365)

Best bet

Even if he isn’t putting up huge points, Pascal Siakam has been doing it all for the Raptors. Siakam recorded a triple-double in his last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a box score of 12 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds.

With the Raptors fully healthy, there is less pressure on him to score all the time, but he is still going to contribute. My favorite prop for Spicy P is his rebounding total. He's hauled down double-digit boards five times in his last nine games and now gets a great chance to keep cleaning up the glass against the Magic.

Orlando is not a great rebounding team, ranking 22nd in rebounding percentage and 27th in opponent rebounds per game, and now will be without their best rebounder in Carter. Siakam should have another big night on the boards.

Pick: Pascal Siakam Over 8.5 rebounds (-104 at FanDuel)

Pages related to this topic