76ers vs. Magic Prediction on February 2, 2023

Match info

The struggling Orlando Magic will play the resurgent Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, February 2, in the “City of Brotherly Love”. The opening tip-off for this men’s basketball 2022-23 NBA Eastern Conference regular season duel is set for 7 p.m. local time. For the 76ers vs. Magic prediction, keep reading.

Meeting statistics

Orlando (19-31, 6-18 away) has now lost two straight games after losing to the Chicago Bulls at the weekend. By defeating Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, the Sixers, who have won seven straight games, made a statement. Joel Embiid outperformed the two-time reigning MVP.

On Thursday, the Sixers are a commanding 10.5-point favorite and have won 57.5% of their games. After the OKC Thunder, that’s where they stand in the league. Additionally, comparing the moneyline (match-winner) odds of online sportsbooks with deposit bonuses, they have notably lower odds on them in relation to the Magic. So, if Orlando wins the game, that disparity has a lot of value. However, “Philly” has prevailed in 10 straight games against them and might make it 11 if they prevail again on January 31 (the mutual encounter before the one we’re doing the analysis for).

The current form of the 76ers

Philadelphia is undoubtedly one of the NBA’s most perilous teams right now, that can be said with certainty. While James Harden and Embiid are the best pick-and-roll duo in the league and have excellent chemistry, Tyrese Maxey has adapted to his bench role.

Additionally, Embiid made some noise on national television just a few days after being overlooked despite starting for the All-Star game. The big guy from Cameroon came out with a vengeance and dropped 47 on the Nuggets, making it quite evident that voters made a grave error by leaving him off the starting five for the events in Salt Lake City next month. Embiid competed with “The Joker” and outperformed him by going 18 for 31 from the field and snatching 18 rebounds. Despite the fact that he was the primary motivator, five other players scored at least 13 points.

This Sixers rotation has recently been incredibly balanced, which is a huge factor in their winning streak. Additionally, they have put up at least 120 points in three straight games, and with Orlando’s 22nd-ranked defense, this is yet another excellent chance for Embiid & Co. to perform in front of the Philly faithful. However, because to foot pain, the superstar is labeled as questionable for Thursday’s game (almost certainly he won’t be playing Monday's game). You should keep an eye on that.

The latest results of the 76ers:

• Won against Nuggets 126-119
• Won against Nets 137-133
• Won against Kings 129-127
• Won against Blazers 105-95
• Won against Clippers 120-110

The current form of the Magic

The projected balance for Orlando was far worse than the current 19-31. They do, however, have some exciting young talent that has the potential to be important components for the future, and they are only four games shy of the final play-in berth.

Paolo Banchero, a strong favorite in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds, is having an outstanding first-ever NBA season. He’s leading the team with averages of 20.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, while Franz Wagner is contributing 19.9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. The two most reliable Magic players are these two.

However, the pair battled against Chicago, and the result—a 19-point loss—reflected their struggles. They shot just 6 for 22 from the field for a total of just 16 points. In actuality, just one player from the line-up scored in the double digits. Off the bench, Moritz Wagner did score 27, though. Banchero and the younger Wagner need to perform well if Orlando is to have any hope of competing with Philly.

The latest results of the Magic:

• Lost to Bulls 109-128
• Lost to Heat 105-110
• Won against Pacers 126-120
• Won against Celtics 113-98
• Lost to Wizards 118-138

Head-to-head encounters

You already got this info: 10 out of the last 10 head-to-heads for the 76 ers.

Match analytics

You can’t bet against the 76ers right now. However, Embiid’s situation is crucial. They’ll cover the spread (handicap) we suggest if he plays. If not, Orlando might get this closer than the handicap, which wouldn’t surprise us then. Our pick: -10.5 on Philadelphia at odds of 1.93 on PointsBet.

Results of the forecast

Successful forecast. 76ers vs. Magic 105:94