Teams hoping to improve their outlook for the NBA playoff picture meet up on Monday evening when the Brooklyn Nets (16-18) travel to the Amway Center to take on the Orlando Magic (16-20) at 7 p.m. ET. Though there are still months to go, the Magic are currently the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, with the Nets are just one game ahead as the No. 7 seed. The latest Magic vs. Nets odds show Orlando as a five-point favorite, down half a point from the opening line, while the over-under for total points is 212.5, up two points from the opener. Before locking any Nets vs. Magic picks, see the NBA predictions from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and last season it returned a whopping $4,280 on its top-rated NBA spread and money line picks. It's already returned almost $1,800 in profit on all its top-rated NBA picks during the 2019-20 season and entered Week 10 on a blistering 23-11 run on all top-rated NBA spread picks. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, it has simulated Magic vs. Nets 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning over, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
The Magic received a tough blow on Saturday as they fell 109-96 to Utah. Terrence Ross (24 points) and Nikola Vucevic (22 points) were the top scorers for the Magic. Orlando was outscored 33-21 in the final quarter. Ross is averaging 21.3 points per game over his last three games. Vucevic is averaging 22 points per game over his past five.
Meanwhile, injuries continue to be the story for the Nets. Brooklyn knew it wouldn't have Kevin Durant (Achilles) this season, but Kyrie Irving's shoulder injury has been a tough blow. He remains out indefinitely.
Guard Caris LeVert (thumb) is back in the lineup, but he has seen some restrictions on his minutes as he works towards a full return. Center DeAndre Jordan (knee) is probable for Monday's matchup.
The Nets have lost five straight and failed to cover in each one, dropping them below .500 against the spread this season (16-18). The Magic, however, haven't been any better, posting a 15-19-2 mark against the number in the 2019-20 NBA season.
So who wins Nets vs. Magic? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Magic vs. Nets spread you need to jump on Monday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
