The Miami Heat (14-8) face the Orlando Magic (13-9) Friday at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Heat vs. Magic odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Magic lead 1-0
The Heat dropped their latest game Wednesday night, losing 118-109 to the Dallas Mavericks as 4.5-point road favorites with the Under (239) hitting. C Kel’el Ware came off the bench to lead Miami with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while C Bam Adebayo added 21 points and 7 boards. Miami has lost 2 of its last 3 games.
The Magic saw their 3-game win streak end Wednesday in a 114-112 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. They failed to cover as 8-point home favorites and the Under (236) hit. F Franz Wagner led Orlando with 25 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, but his potential game-tying layup was blocked in the final seconds. G Jalen Suggs added 24 points in the loss.
The Magic beat the Heat 125-121 in Orlando Oct. 22. Miami covered as an 8.5-point underdog and the Over (215) cashed.
Heat at Magic odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:20 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Heat +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Magic -210 (bet $210 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Heat +5.5 (-110) | Magic -5.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U): 241.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Heat at Magic key injuries
Heat
G Tyler Herro (toe) questionableG Norman Powell (ankle) questionable
Magic
F Paolo Banchero (groin) questionableF Moritz Wagner (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Heat at Magic picks and predictionsPrediction
Magic 127, Heat 123
PASS.
I could see the Heat (+170) winning this game outright, but I’d rather play it safe getting the points.
BET MIAMI +5.5 (-110).
I’m taking the points with Miami. The Heat’s spread feels a little too generous for a Miami team that usually competes, even when things haven’t gone perfectly. Yeah, they dropped their last game in Dallas, but this group can score in bunches, and we’ve seen that lately — especially with Adebayo playing steady inside while Herro and Powell give them real perimeter juice.
What really sells me is the defense. Miami isn’t flashy, but it’s disciplined, and that travels. It holds teams to tough shooting nights, and that matters against an Orlando squad that can go cold for stretches, even at home. The Magic just failed to cover as big home favorites, and they’ve been up-and-down when laying this kind of number.
The Heat have been solid ATS overall, and as underdogs, they’ve been even better. Erik Spoelstra usually finds a way to muddy games like this and keep things within a couple of possessions.
The number’s too big for a matchup that should stay tight deep into the fourth quarter.
BET OVER 241.5 (-115).
I’m riding with the Over Friday night, even though both teams can defend. The trends are tough to ignore. The Over has hit in 7 of the last 10 matchups between Miami and Orlando, and the Magic have gone Over in 7 of their last 10 overall. Miami is 2-1 to the Over in its last 3 games as well. Both offenses are efficient enough to push this past the number, even without the flash.
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