The Oklahoma City Thunder puts its 8-game win streak on the line on Tuesday night as they kick off a 5-game East Coast road trip in Orlando against the Magic. OKC’s win streak has featured plenty of highlights, with 6 wins against 5 different teams currently in playoff position. Orlando is fresh off a 7-win streak of their own, which was snapped last night in a 124-112 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
OKC has won 8 straight games—a streak which features 6 playoff teams—and they are looking to make it 9 against a surging Orlando squad. The Magic had won 7 in a row before getting crushed at home by the Atlanta Hawks last night. The Thunder benefits from a little more than a full day of rest after Sunday’s noon tip-off, so between that and the roster nearing full health, I like OKC to win big.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Kicks Off Road Trip Heavily Favored in Orlando
The Oklahoma City Thunder is back at home on Tuesday night, hosting Paolo Banchero and the visiting Orlando Magic. Coming off a big win in Denver on Sunday night, the Thunder looks to put together a winning streak, but to do so, they will have to do it shorthanded.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #51 Preview: Orlando Magic
This line worries because of all the questions surrounding the injury report. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays, I feel better about it, and if either one of Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein plays, I feel MUCH better about it. Realistically, they could all sit, and the Thunder could be looking at heavy minutes for guys like Branden Carlson and Brooks Barnhizer. I like OKC’s depth enough to see them win the game, but covering the spread could be a tall task, so I’m taking Orlando to cover.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Favored At Home Over Orland Despite Lengthy Injury Report
Tonight the Thunder will kickoff the first of a back-to-back in Florida as they take on the Magic in Orlando. The Magic entered the season with high hopes of making headway in the East, but their train has slowed down due to major injuries to key players. Both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have suffered torn right obliques and will end up missing quite a bit of time before they return, but Orlando is still no easy matchup. OKC would do well to show up with high energy and a renewed resolve to continue their trek towards one of the most successful starts in Thunder history.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #26 Preview: Orlando Magic
Oklahoma City had a go agains the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup Championship last night, but I don’t expect that to continue. The Thunder shot about as poorly as they will all season long, and despite the quick turnaround and a flight across the country, I think OKC will pick back up where they had previously left off with their 5-win streak. Technically last night’s loss should have ended the Thunder’s streak, but also technically the game didn’t count for standings or stats. The Magic are without their two best players, and while they have been a solid cover at home, they have been an underdog at home just once, in which they did not cover. OKC should be able to get back to their style of basketball and pick up a good win.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Looking for Bounceback Win as Favorite in Orlando
The Thunder became the first team to ever start a season with 5 straight wins by 12 or more points, and then they defeated the LA Clipper on Saturday night to move that streak to 6. They have a shot to extend that streak even more as they are favored by double digits against the Magic. Orlando is short-handed and are notably missing Paolo Banchero, the guy that was drafted ahead of Chet Holmgren.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC a Big Favorite Over Ailing Magic
Now OKC travels to Orlando to take on the Magic for one last game before heading into the NBA All-Star Break. The Magic has had a surprisingly successful season, and similar to the Thunder, Orlando is probably a little ahead of their rebuild as their young squad has meshed quickly and figured out a way to win consistently.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #54 Preview: Orlando Magic
At first glance, Orlando looks like a super hot team right now, winning 5 of their last 6 outings. When you take a closer look, however, you realize only two of those wins are against teams currently in a playoff slot—the Timberwolves and the Bulls. OKC, on the other hand, hasn’t exactly played their best basketball recently, but they’ve definitely played a tougher schedule as of late. I think that’s going to make the difference in what should be a tough road test headed into the All-Star Break, so I’m giving the Thunder the edge and the cover, but I do expect it to come down to the last few minutes of the game.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Given a Slight Edge Against Magic in Orlando
This is the first matchup between the #1 and #2 picks of the 2022 drafts as the Magic’s Paolo Banchero will face off with OKC’s Chet Holmgren. Banchero won Rookie of the Year last year, and after missing last season due to injury, Holmgren has a good shot at getting Rookie of the Year this year.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #38 Preview: Orlando Magic