76ers vs Magic Betting Preview: Magic Eye Key Win
Eastern Conference Showdown
We have a 76ers vs Magic betting preview for the big game at Kia Center on Wednesday.
The Magic are favored to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, who are without Joel Embiid, which had a massive impact on the NBA odds.
However, the Magic are playing well, and deserve to be respected with home court advantage.
76ers vs Magic 
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Tough for 76ers
It’s tough for the 76ers to win without Embiid on the floor.
The Cameroonian averages 35 points per game, and when you’re not the best scoring team in the league, that’s a big loss.
Coach Nick Nurse hoped he could play in Miami, but some rest and recuperation is needed.
“Obviously, he stayed in the game and it didn’t change his rotation at all,” Nurse said after Friday’s win. “But he played through it and I’m pretty sure he’ll be sore tomorrow. We’ll have to monitor it over the next couple days before we get on the plane [to Miami].”
The pressure now falls on Tyrese Maxey, who doesn’t have enough experience to lead them in Embiid’s absence, which is why they’re +2.5 underdogs.
If they’re not careful, they could fall down the NBA playoff standings without Embiid, but after posting a 20-9 record, they have a nice buffer.
Without Embiid playing, they lost 119-113 to Miami on Monday. It was a solid enough effort in defeat, but the Heat didn’t have Jimmy Butler, so beating a relatively full strength Magic team could prove difficult.
Matching their overall record, the 76ers are 20-9 against the spread. It’s an impressive record, especially when staring +2.5 in the face, but they usually struggle when Embiid is off the floor.
That’s the major issue for anyone looking at taking Philadelphia to cover. It’s only 8-5 on the road, so it’s tough to find big positives on that statistic.
Bettors Love Magic
The Magic are 19-9 ATS and 10-3 at home, so our 76ers vs Magic betting preview could find an edge for the home side.
Despite losing four on the bounce, they fired back with a tough 117-110 win against the Indiana Pacers on the road, which should give the Magic plenty of confidence.
The latest NBA news suggests the Magic are back to their best after a trying period, and returning home should help their cause.
They are 11-3 overall at home, so losing is rare, and facing an Embiid-less Philadelphia team adds weight to their appeal.
We thought the Magic would be around -5 at the sportsbook, so bettors get a fair line for this Eastern Conference matchup.
We have loved what Paolo Banchero has produced. He averages 21.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He leads the team in all categories, so he’s one of the rising stars of the NBA.
If Banchero plays anywhere near his best, the Magic should have the advantage.
No Tricks with the Magic
We expect the Magic to come out swinging on Wednesday and take the game to the 76ers.
Our 76ers vs Magic betting preview would have been happy to suggest taking a higher line, so we’re locking in the Magic -2.5 with confidence.
Money could come for the home team late, so it’s best to take the early line and include it in NBA parlays.
With no Embiid, we’re also included under 225.5. It could be a low-scoring contest, and the 76ers could score under 100 points.
Eastern Conference games used to be low scoring, and although modern NBA is different, 76ers vs Magic could be a throwback.
