Magic vs Raptors Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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15 March 2024

Magic vs Raptors Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

With Toronto down multiple key starters, newly acquired center Kelly Olynyk will be called upon for points in tonight's Eastern Conference clash at Scotiabank Arena. Read more in our Magic vs. Raptors betting picks.

Don’t look now, but the Orlando Magic have a real shot at homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs, and tonight’s visit to the slumping Toronto Raptors should only help their cause.

The Magic, who boast a 4-2 mark so far in March, are clear road favorites in the latest NBA odds — and Paolo Banchero led the way with 21 points and nine assists in Wednesday’s 114-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Meanwhile, it’s been a miserable stretch for the re-tooling Raptors, who’ve dropped five in a row and reached a new low with a 113-104 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

Read on for our free NBA picks and predictions for Magic vs. Raptors ahead of this Friday, March 15 showdown.

Magic vs Raptors odds

Magic vs Raptors predictions

With the Toronto Raptors focusing on player development and roster evaluation over the final weeks of the season, the results may get worse before they get better. Toronto is without Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett tonight, while Gary Trent Jr. is questionable.

That should mean another busy night for veteran center Kelly Olynyk, who is walking into starter minutes down the stretch to prop up inexperienced line-ups. Olynyk has had 15 or more points in four of his last five contests — and he’s amped up his scoring this week, with 24 points against Denver and 19 in Detroit.

Though the Canadian’s minutes are sometimes dictated by the matchup, Darko Rajakovic doesn’t have much choice here, with Jontay Porter as the only other available big man. There will be nothing easy against an excellent Orlando Magic defense holding opponents to 109 points per game this season, but Olynyk has the size to get his shot off against smaller defenders.

These odds jump out as good value for a Toronto team that’s light on scoring and in need of double-digit field goal attempts from Olynyk.

My best bet: Kelly Olynyk Over 12.5 points(-125 at PointsBet)

Magic vs Raptors same-game parlay

Kelly Olynyk Over 12.5 points

Gradey Dick Over 2.5 threes

Magic -7.5

Gradey Dick has shrugged off a rough start to his rookie season and he’s looked like he belongs over the past month. With Toronto limping to the finish line, the former Jayhawk is going to get all the minutes he can handle, and we could see an uptick in his 3-point attempts.

Dick has logged at least 30 minutes in four straight games. Though he’s only knocked down three or more triples in one of those outings, he’s got a pathway to double-digit attempts again tonight — and he’s coming off an eye-catching 49% clip from beyond the arc in February.

All that said, I still can’t trust the Raptors against the spread. As much as Olynyk, Dick, and Immanuel Quickley should get the volume to post impressive numbers here, the Magic have taken care of business in their past 10 games with a 7-3 mark.

Orlando is a whopping 43-23 against the spread this season and that gives me the confidence to lay the points with the visitors.

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Magic vs Raptors spread and Over/Under analysis

The Magic start the day as the No. 5 seed, but they’re only a game behind the Knicks. The glass half-empty view is that they’re also just two games above the play-in zone. Every matchup counts for the visitors — and they’re playing like they know it.

Orlando’s 16-19 road record is a little concerning (though its ATS mark is terrific), but the Raptors have looked like a team counting the days until summer vacations, so it’s reasonable to wonder how much resistance the Magic will meet here.

The Raptors have lost seven of their past eight contests and this feels like a mismatch on paper. Toronto has only covered the spread in two of those outings.

With Orlando leaning into a defense-first mindset, the Under is 8-2 in its last 10 outings. That seems like the safer play here, even with the line as low as 217.5. The Raptors had some strong offensive nights on their recent road trip, including 119 points against the Nuggets, but their roster is stretched thin and it would be no surprise to see the hosts fall short of 100 points tonight.