Free NBA Pick: Magic vs. Heat NBA Odds
Looking for Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Magic taking on the Heat on Sunday, December 26th, 2021 at FTX Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Magic Heat matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(7-26) Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat (20-13)
Date: Sunday, December 26th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Moneyline Odds: Magic +332 | Heat -364 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Bucks -8.5
NBA Betting Total: 207
Sunday, December 26th, finds the Orlando Magic facing the Miami Heat in their third meeting of this season. Miami won both prior meetings on October 25th (107-90) and December 17th (115-105). They’ll play once more this season in Orlando on April 10th.
Both teams last played on Thursday with the Heat beating the Pistons 115-112 and Orlando scrapping with a severely depleted roster but falling 104-110 to the Pelicans.
Orlando Magic
The three teams hit hardest (in the last week) by the omicron variant are the Magic, Nets, and Raptors. Although Orlando’s game versus the Raptors was postponed they were forced to play Wednesday and Thursday while Toronto and Brooklyn’s matches were postponed.
Orlando forged ahead signing six players to hardship deals and in spite of being down over 10 players have won two of their last three games and also pushed the Pelicans.
Highlighting just how decimated the Magic are J.E. Skeets of The Athletic’s No Dunks podcast (formerly of The Starters, and The Basketball Jones) tweet summed up everything:
Hawks lost to this tonight. 😬 pic.twitter.com/6JHUN3xD76
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) December 23, 2021
Although that crew ^^^ beat the Hawks, playing a back-to-beat set proved just out of their grasp but four of the five starters scored in double-figures against the Pelicans,
Cole Anthony (22 points, 11 assists) and Wendell Carter Jr. (17 points, 12 rebounds) both returned and delivered double-doubles while Gary Harris and rookie Franz Wagner scored 22 and 20 points respectively.
The group with COVID Terrence Ross, Moritz Wagner, Mo Bamba, Ignas Brazdeikis are downgraded to out Sunday. R.J. Hampton (conditioning) is upgraded to probable. Wendell Carter Jr. (undisclosed) and Cole Anthony (ankle) are all listed as questionable.
Jalen Suggs (thumb), Jonathan Isaacs (knee), Markelle Fultz (knee), Michael Carter-Williams (knee), and E’Twaun Moore (knee) are out indefinitely.
Miami Heat
Similar to the Magic, their Florida counterparts have been fighting through matches shorthanded, but the Heat are impacted primarily by injury. Caleb Martin was the only player in protocols but has exited and was upgraded to probable for Sunday.
With Jimmy Butler (tailbone) missing 12 of the last 13 games and Bam Adebayo (thumb) the last 12 (and will be out four to six weeks) the Heat amassed a 7-6 record but more impressively are 6-2 through the last eight contests.
Throughout this stretch, the only members of the starting unit (core group) to play in every game are Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson. Lowry in particular is proving to be worth his weight in gold as he captains the young 3-point snipers to victories.
In the win versus the Pistons, Lowry registered 21 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a steal while Herro led the scoring with 29 points. Max Strus chipped in 26 and Gabe Vincent offered 15 points.
Dewayne Dedmon injured his knee in the match and will miss one to two weeks but help may be on the way as Butler and Tucker were upgraded to questionable for Sunday while Martin is probable.
UPDATE: Lowry (COVID) is out.
Adebayo (thumb) is out 4 to 6 weeks while Markieff Morris (neck) and Victor Oladipo (knee) are out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Heat are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
- The Magic are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando’s last 7 games.
Free Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat NBA Prediction:
When the Florida teams play, more often than not it’s a competitive game but the Heat are on a roll and if Miami gets back Butler and Tucker they’ll provide more offensive versatility and an upgrade defensively.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Heat -8.5
If you’re looking for more NBA picks like this Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NBA predictions on the blog during the entire NBA season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NBA predictions!
Register here for a FREE NBA Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!