OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic Prediction and Betting Tips | Dec. 19, 2024

Two of the NBA’s brightest young teams meet in Thursday’s OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic matchup, part of the league’s 13-game schedule following a one-day break. The Thunder are coming off a tough loss in the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup final, while the Magic enter the game after a brief three-day hiatus, following a two-game losing streak.

The Thunder have won five consecutive games (excluding their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final), including victories over the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

Meanwhile, the Magic, who are currently dealing with injuries to star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, have dropped their last two contests. Despite this, they have been dominant at home with a 10-1 record.

Here’s everything you need to know about the OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic game, set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET at Kia Center in Orlando.

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OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic Prediction, Preview and Odds

Moneyline: Thunder (-265) vs Magic (+215)

Spread: Thunder -6.5 (-110) vs Magic +6.5 (-110)

Total (O/U): Thunder o210.5 (-110) vs Magic o210.5 (-110)

Editor's note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

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OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic preview

The OKC Thunder are coming off their toughest loss of the season, falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final. The Thunder’s offense struggled, shooting just 5-for-32 (15.6%) from beyond the arc.

The good news is that the game doesn't affect their standings. The Thunder still hold the best net rating in the league (12.1) and the top defensive rating (103.1). They lead the competitive Western Conference, with MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm.

Meanwhile, the Magic sit near the bottom of the league in offensive rating but boast the third-best defensive rating. They’ve lost four of their last seven games and have been struggling since losing Franz Wagner, while already missing Paolo Banchero.

It’s likely that both forwards will return in 2025, with the OKC game marking the first of their last six games in 2024.

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OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic predicted starting lineups

Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Nikola Topic will not be playing for the Thunder.

The Magic will be without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner due to torn right obliques, and Gary Harris is listed as questionable.

Thunder

G - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | G - Isaiah Joe | F - Lu Dort | F - Jalen Williams | C - Isaiah Hartenstein

Magic

G - Jalen Suggs | G - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | F - Tristan Da Silva | F - Wendell Carter Jr. | C - Goga Bitadze

Editor's note: These are the predicted lineups and could change based on the availability of players.

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OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic betting props

• Isaiah Hartenstein to score over 10.5 points is -110 at Caesars NJ. He’s expected to clear this line.
• Jalen Williams to score over 21.5 points is -120 at Caesars NJ. He’s likely to surpass this total.

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OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic prediction

While the Thunder struggled offensively against the Bucks, that game is likely an outlier in what has otherwise been a dominant season. Expect the Thunder to bounce back and defeat the Magic by double digits.