Thunder vs Magic Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: No Storm in Florida Tuesday

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder will visit a Kingdom on the Rise on Tuesday, as they take on Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center, and we've searched through the NBA odds to find you the best bet for this matchup.

The Orlando Magic will retire their first jersey in franchise history on Tuesday, as Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 will be sent to the rafters. 

While honoring one of their greatest players from their past, can the current Magic team cover the spread against a Thunder team led by one of the NBA MVP odds favorites, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? 

Find out which bet I'm backing in my free NBA picks for Thunder vs. Magic on Tuesday, February 13.

Thunder vs Magic odds

Thunder vs Magic predictions

Not only will the Magic be sending O'Neal's No. 32 to the rafters, which will have the Kia Center buzzing, but this is also a nationally televised game for the Magic on TNT. With such a young, talented core of players, the Magic players and fanbase were disappointed to see the Magic only receive five nationally televised games, and this is their only appearance on TNT.

Not only do I expect the Kia Center to be hopping with energy, but this Magic team is going to be out to prove something against the Thunder. With the Magic trading as a 2.5-point underdog, I think we can take advantage of this angle with the Magic.

The Magic and Thunder played each other back on January 13, and the Thunder won 112-100. If you just look at the score, backing the Magic as a 2.5-point underdog on Tuesday isn't all that appealing, but the score doesn't tell the whole story. The Magic were playing that game on the second night of a back-to-back and were without three of their starters in that game.

What makes the Thunder so difficult to play against? Well, they have positional size; Chet Holmgren can stretch the floor and create space, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just a flat-out elite scorer. The thing is, the Magic have defensive counters to all of this, and not too many teams in the NBA can say the same.

Jalen Suggs is one of the best defenders in the entire NBA at the point of attack, and he is someone who can be disruptive to Gilgeous-Alexander. Franz Wagner is 6'10" and a plus defender who can guard Jalen Williams, and Jamahl Mosley also has his greatest weapon, which he can deploy against the Thunder, Jonathan Isaac.

Not only were the Magic missing some of their best defensive players against the Thunder in their first matchup, but they were also without some of their key floor spacers, who help create space for Paolo Banchero to operate on the offensive end, in Gary Harris and Joe Ingles.

The Magic roster, which will be taking the floor on Tuesday against the Thunder, is much different than the one the Thunder saw in the first game on January 13, which featured Caleb Houstan and Chuma Okeke in the starting lineup. I think the Magic should be closer to a 1-point underdog, and it's why I'm taking the +2.5 with the Magic at FanDuel.

My best bet: Magic +2.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

Thunder vs Magic same-game parlay

Magic +2.5

Paolo Banchero Over 24.5 points

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 31.5 points

+450 at DraftKings

On a night where the Magic will retire their first jersey in franchise history, I think you need to back the points prop of another player who will probably one day have his jersey hanging in the rafters at the Kia Center as well. In a nationally televised game, with Shaq in the house, give me the Over 24.5 points on Banchero.

The bottom line is, if the Magic are going to cash the +2.5, we will need a big game from Banchero, and he will have teammates who can space the floor for him this time around against the Thunder, unlike their first meeting on January 13.

I mentioned in our best bet how Suggs is one of the best defenders at the point of attack and will draw the assignment on Gilgeous-Alexander, but I'm super curious if Mosley will also use Isaac on Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander is elite at drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line, but Isaac plays some of the best defense in the NBA while maintaining legal guarding position that I've seen from anyone this season. Not only could the size of Isaac bother Gilgeous-Alexander, but putting Isaac on Gilgeous-Alexander might keep him off the free-throw line.

Similar to the Banchero Over bet on the points prop, if the Magic are going to cover the +2.5, they will have to keep Gilgeous-Alexander Under 31.5 points.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Thunder vs Magic spread and Over/Under analysis

The Thunder opened as a 2.5-point road favorite against the Magic on Tuesday, and we haven't seen any movement in this line. Some sportsbooks did open the Thunder at -3, but they quickly moved to Thunder -2.5 when other sportsbooks started releasing their opening line at Thunder -2.5. Do a little shopping before hitting the button on a side in this game; you might be able to find a rogue Magic +3.

The total opened at 227.5 at FanDuel, and it has moved half a point towards the Under to 227. I wouldn't be shocked at all if we see this total continue to move towards the Under as we approach tipoff. The 227 seems a little high for this matchup of two teams who have defensive counters to each other's offense.

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Thunder vs Magic betting trend to know

The Orlando Magic have hit the 4Q moneyline in 26 of their last 40 games (+14.40 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Magic.

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