Hawks vs. Magic NBA expert prediction and odds for Thursday, Nov. 9
The NBA takes on Mexico City on Thursday night with the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks facing off in Mexico at 9:30 p.m. EST on NBA TV.
This should be a fun matchup between two division rivals that both enter this game with 4-3 records on the season.
Orlando – technically the home team – enters this matchup as a slight underdog, but the team is one of the best against the spread teams so far this season.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are hoping star Trae Young can get back on track shooting the ball this season to bring Atlanta back to the playoffs.
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Hawks vs. Magic odds, spread, and total
Hawks vs. Magic how to watch
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 9
- Game Time: 9:30 p.m. EST
- Venue: Mexico City Arena
- How to Watch (TV): NBATV, Bally Sports Florida
- Atlanta Hawks Record: 4-3
- Orlando Magic Record: 4-3
Hawks vs. Magic injury reports
Atlanta Hawks injury report
- Kobe Bufkin – out
- Mouhamed Gueye – questionable
- Wesley Matthews – out
- Seth Lundy – out
- Miles Norris – out
Orlando Magic injury report
- Wendell Carter Jr. – out
- Markelle Fultz – questionable
- Gary Harris – out
- Jonathan Isaac – probable
- Kevon Harris – out
- Trevelin Queen – out
Hawks vs. Magic key players to watch
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young: Can the Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star guard turn things around? Young is shooting a dreadful 33.6 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3 this season. If he starts shooting more efficiently, this team is going to jump to an even better offensive rating – currently No. 4 in the NBA.
Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero: After a slow start to the 2024 season, Banchero has scored 22 or more points in three straight games. The Magic certainly need his scoring, and the reigning Rookie of the Year could be finding his stride to blossom into an All-Star candidate this season.
Cole Anthony: Cole Anthony could be making an early claim for Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 15.9 points per game through Orlando’s first seven games off the bench. The former first-round pick can score in bunches, and if he has a big game off the bench, it could sway this in Orlando’s favor.
Hawks vs. Magic prediction and pick
I do not love laying the points with Atlanta – technically on the road – in this matchup.
The Magic have been elite against the spread to start this season, going 6-2 against the spread, and they are starting to get star-level play from Banchero.
The team was priced very similarly even when Banchero was struggling, so I love getting 3.5 points with him returning to his Rookie of the Year form from last season.
Atlanta is 3-4 against the spread this season, failing to cover in both of its games as a favorite.
Both of these teams have been solid – Atlanta is seventh in net rating, Orlando is 12th – but Orlando’s defense has been elite.
The team is No. 4 in the league in defensive rating, posting four games where it allowed fewer than 110 points this season. While Atlanta loves to push the pace (No. 3 in the NBA), Orlando could look to slow this game down (21st in pace).
The Hawks have the No. 4 offense in the league, so this is a strength-on-strength matchup. I think that bodes well for Orlando getting 3.5 points.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey’s betting record here.
