Magic vs Lakers Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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30 October 2023

Magic vs Lakers Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

The Los Angeles Lakers come into this back-to-back off a heartbreaking loss and have yet to cover the spread. One shining start outside of age one has been Anthony Davis, and our NBA picks expect him to put L.A. on his back.

Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers failed to pull out a win in overtime Sunday night in Sacramento. Now, I'm lining up my NBA picks as they return home to play the second of a back-to-back against the upstart Orlando Magic.

There’s the promise of a scintillating big-man duel in this one, with reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero going toe-to-toe with Anthony Davis. AD looked shaky in game one of the season but has made those who've bet the Over on his NBA player props the last couple of games very happy.

NBA odds have pegged Los Angeles as a 2.5-point favorite, and my Magic vs. Lakers preview expects "The Brow" to do all he can to ensure his team covers.

Magic vs Lakers odds

Magic vs Lakers predictions

Since shrinking in the second half against Denver in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-opening loss, Anthony Davis has asserted himself with back-to-back 30-point performances.

Even with Davis’ stat-stuffing lines, it hasn’t stopped LeBron James’ maintenance plan from going off the rails. LBJ cruised by his 28-to-30-minute planned pitch count in the last two games, logging 35 minutes — including the entire fourth quarter — against Phoenix, and 39 against Sacramento.

If James isn’t getting the night off all together for rest, you have to believe Darvin Ham tries to stick to the plan Monday. That means Davis’ all-around efforts will be necessary for the Lakers to be competitive.

On paper, things look a little tricky for L.A.'s offense: The Orlando Magic have held their first two opponents to under 100 points, but let's take a moment to look at who Orlando has played. The Magic dispatched the lowly Rockets and Trail Blazers... you know, the two teams with identical 0-3 records?

The Lakers will be Orlando's toughest challenge in this short campaign and Davis seems to be in one of those grooves where he's decided to actually live up to his potential. With Bron needing a helping hand and "The Brow" heating up, I'm taking the big man to top his points total for a third-straight game.

My best bet: Davis Over 24.5 points (-115 at bet365)

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Magic vs Lakers same-game parlay

Davis Over 24.5 pts (-115)

Davis Over 2.5 blocks (-110)

On top of being asked to consistently operate as the Lakers’ offensive hub, they need AD to be their last line of defense. His presence inside, either on the ball or off, can transform L.A. from a mediocre D to among the league’s best.

Davis has had three blocks in each of the last two games, and still had a pair of rejections in an off night against the Nuggets. Look for him to maintain that elite paint protection Monday.

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Magic vs Lakers and Over/Under analysis

Prior to the Kings game on Sunday, you could find the Lakers as high as 4.5-point favorites. Now, the line has been shaved by two points to 2.5. My feeling is this is a bunch of little factors working against L.A. being taken into consideration.

This includes the Lakers already 0-3 against the spread to start the season, needing to go to overtime in NorCal the night before and James likely seeing his minutes shaved.

Also, the Magic owned the fourth-best success rate on the road against the spread last year, going 23-17-1. Only Sacramento, Utah, and New York were better.

The total has been around that 220.5 range, with a point fluctuation in either direction if you’re looking for it.

The Magic are one of seven NBA teams that haven't hit the Over in their games this season. Though it’s just a small two-game sample, they rank last in pace in the NBA, which means this has the potential to hit that Under. The Lakers (15th in pace) needed OT but hit the Over for the first time in their loss to Sacramento.