After back-to-back tough losses, the New York Knicks head to Amway Center in search of a much-needed victory against the Orlando Magic. Here are our Knicks vs. Magic NBA picks based on the best NBA odds.
After winning a season-best nine straight games from Feb. 11 to March 5, the New York Knicks have gone 3-5 over their last eight. The Knicks' last two losses were close calls against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and the Miami Heat on Wednesday. New York is just two games up on the Heat and Brooklyn Nets for the No. 5 seed in the East, and a road win against the Orlando Magic is critical for the team to maintain its current seeding.
The home team surely won't go down without a fight, as the Magic have won two of their last three, including a convincing win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Here is our best&nbs p;Knicks vs. Magic NBA pick (odds via PointsBet; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Check out our best NBA betting sites.
Knicks vs. Magic pick
Another Under? Are you serious? Yes, we're targeting another Under for a matchup that has been low-scoring in recent years. Over the last five seasons, the Knicks and Magic have met 15 times, and the Under has hit in 10 of them. It's not just that the Under has hit – it's hit comfortably.
Of those 15 head-to-heads, only one game featured a total of more than 217 points, and in eight games, neither team scored 110. The average total of those games was 205.1, and the average of the two played already this season is a scant 208.5.
New York averages 115.4 points per game (13th in the NBA), while Orlando averages just 111.7 (26th). New York is above average in the scoring department, but neither team is lighting it up in the box score with regularity. Orlando is a bit better on the defensive end, allowing 114.4 points per game (17th), while New York allows 112.8 (tied-11th).
Both teams rank in the top-10 in lowest 3-point percentage allowed to opponents, and New York allows the fewest points per game to opponents in the paint. Rookie Paolo Banchero thrives in the paint, and some clamps on his scoring could drive Orlando's point total down. We're taking the Under here.
Knicks vs. Magic best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 228 | Under 228 | Under 228.5 | Under 228.5 | Under 229 |
| -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Unfortunately, shopping around doesn't yield any fruitful wagers, as all of our featured books offer similar -110 odds on the point total. Fortunately, our choice of where to wager is an easy one. PointsBet is the only book offering this total as high as 229, and though we're comfortable betting this one down to 225.5, we'll always take the extra point if it doesn't come with shorter odds.
Knicks vs. Magic odds
Check out our NBA Finals odds and NBA MVP odds.
Knicks vs. Magic odds analysis
The line opened at Knicks -2.5 and it's moved a point to a point and a half in favor of the visiting team. Bettors are all in on New York to cover, with 74% of wagers placed on that outcome. New York is 8-2 against the spread as the road favorite and 24-13 on the road overa ll, both best in the Association. Orlando has been great as a home dog, going 16-10 ATS in that situation this season, including 11-4 when +3.5 or longer.
The point total opened at a surprisingly high 229.5, and it's come down to as low as 228 on some books. Expect it to go lower before tip off. The Magic have gone 14-12 to the Over as the home dog this season, and the Knicks have gone 4-5-1 as the road favorite. As outlined above, these two teams hit the Under in both prior matchups this season. With 52% of wagers placed on the Under, bettors favor another low-scoring affair.
Knicks vs. Magic game info
- Date: Thursday, March 23, 7 p.m. ET
- TV: NBA TV
- Location: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Knicks-Magic pick made 3/23/2023 at 11:25 a.m. ET.
Here are our best NBA betting sites:
- FanD uel: No Sweat First Bet Up to $1,000 | Read our FanDuel Review
- Caesars: Earn Up to a $1,250 Bet Credit | Read our Caesars Review
- DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets | Read our DraftKings Review
- PointsBet: Earn Five Second-Chance Bets Up to $50 Each | Read our PointsBet Review
- BetMGM: Get a Bonus Bet of Up to $1,000 | Read our BetMGM Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Online Sportsbooks | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)