Alex Hunter breaks down his analysis, prediction and pick for Thursday’s matchup between the Magic and the Nets.
The Magic are hosting the Nets on Thursday. Orlando is favored by 9.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, and the game carries a total of 214.5 points.
Let’s dive into my preview and pick for the game.
Nets vs. Magic Preview
The Magic continue to fall in the standings and have been one of the NBA’s biggest disappointments this season. Orlando sits at No. 8 in the Eastern Conference at a middling 25-24. Since the new year, the squad is just 6-9 and ranks an ugly 26th in net rating.
The Magic have completely lost their defensive identity, and they’ve struggled to score even with Desmond Bane playing well. The glaring issue has been Franz Wagner, the team’s best player, who has missed 23 (and seven straight) games this season with injuries. Orlando is just 10-13 without him — and it’ll be without him again on Thursday night.
Orlando did show some life recently sans Wagner, beating the Heat and the Raptors in back-to-back games last week. However, the Magic followed it up with consecutive losses to the Spurs and Thunder. In their defense, both those losses came on the road against formidable contenders. On Thursday night, the Magic will face the complete opposite in the lowly Nets.
At 13-36, Brooklyn is tied for the fewest wins in the Eastern Conference. The squad has been even worse than usual since the new year, ranking dead-last in net rating with a league-low three wins.
Michael Porter Jr. is still putting up big numbers as the team’s alpha — scoring at least 30 points in three of his last five games — but the Nets remain extremely one-dimensional on both ends of the floor. In 2026, Brooklyn ranks second-to-last in defensive rating and 30th on offense.
Cam Thomas could be on his way out before the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, as the guard is out for Thursday’s matchup for “personal reasons” amid a slew of trade rumors. This could be a plus for the Nets, as Thomas’s ball-hogging habits have completely stalled Brooklyn’s flow on both ends. The 24-year-old ranks second-to-last in plus-minus for the Nets, and the team is just 5-19 with him on the floor this season.
The Nets should be more competitive with Thomas out against the Magic. Even with him active in their last matchup with the Magic, Brooklyn kept things competitive before falling, 104-103, in overtime.
Thursday’s rematch will be in Orlando, and the Nets have actually been stronger on the road this season. Still, given Brooklyn’s recent form, a win seems increasingly unlikely.
Nets vs. Magic Pick, Best Bet
Even without Wagner, the Magic being favored by 9.5 points against the lowly Nets seems fair. But covering this lofty spread could be tough, as Orlando is just 13-21 ATS as a favorite this season.
While the game line is fairly low at 214.5 points, I prefer to back this game falling under the total. Both these teams have winning records for the under this season, and they failed to clear this line in their last meeting — despite going to overtime. Additionally, Thomas’s absence for Brooklyn should significantly improve the team’s defense.
Best Bet: Under 214.5 Points (-112)