Da Silva (calf) participated in the Magic's morning shootaround and remains questionable for Friday's game against Milwaukee, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Cain (shoulder) participated in the Magic's morning shootaround and remains questionable for Friday's game against the Bucks, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Suggs (knee) participated in the Magic's morning shootaround and remains questionable for Friday's game against the Bucks, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports. However, the veteran guard said he's on track to play.
Edgecombe finished with 15 points (7-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt), eight rebounds, eight assists, one block and three steals in 36 minutes during Thursday's 123-112 victory over the Raptors.
Embiid closed with 20 points (7-17 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 6-7 FT), four rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 28 minutes during Thursday's 123-112 win over Toronto.
Philon was assigned to the G League's Delaware Blue Coats on Thursday, Austin Krell of OnPattison.com reports.
Maxey provided 27 points (8-13 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 10-12 FT), two rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block across 35 minutes during Thursday's 123-112 win over Toronto.
Embiid (knee) returned to Thursday's game against Toronto with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.
Embiid exited to the locker room during the first quarter of Thursday's game against the Raptors due to an apparent right knee injury, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.
Wade will start Thursday's game against the Raptors.
Desmond Bane cleared this prop total in two of three meetings with Philly this season, the exception coming in a 144-103 Magic blowout in which he produced a ridiculous plus-44 in the box score in 29 minutes. In the other two matchups with the 76ers, Bane put up 23 points and five rebounds, and 24 points and three rebounds. Bane was awesome in two play-in games last season for Memphis, pouring in 52 points with 11 rebounds. Look for a tight game in which Bane plays about 35 minutes and goes Over.
Oubre averaged 19.0 P/R on the season, so oddsmakers expect the norm or slightly less. But Oubre feasted on the Magic in his one full game against them with 25 & 10. Someone has to make up for the lost 34.6 P/R of Joel Embiid. In the last 14 games without Embiid, Oubre as a starter has eclipsed 20 nine times. Orlando ranks 28th in PPG allowed to small forward sand 26th in rebounds given up to the spot.
We have seen Paolo Banchero come up big in the playoffs before. Against an excellent defensive team in the Celtics last postseason, Banchero averaged 29.4 points over five games. In the 2024 playoffs, he averaged 27.0 points in a seven-game series against the Cavaliers. He should play a ton and lead the Magic in shot attempts, so I like his chances of scoring at least 23 points.
This is a nice discount on Franz Wagner’s scoring line. Wagner missed the bulk of the season but returned late in the season and both his usage and playing time steadily increased culminating in two performances where he eclipsed this line to close out the regular season. I expect Franz to get a nice bump in playing time and I like his chances of scoring 20+ points.
DraftKings (1.5u). Paolo Banchero averaged 5.2 assists per game this season. He cleared this line in 22/31 games when playing 32+ minutes against teams outside the top 12 in assists allowed. The Sixers ranked 22nd in that department, and Banchero’s minutes floor is all but guaranteed. Franz Wagner is back, and he of course missed the bulk of the season, but his minutes will still be somewhat capped, and also staggered with Paolo’s. Bachero also has the more favorable individual matchup as the Sixers lack the front court presence to match his size. Historically, Nick Nurse will send soft doubles/help at Paolo, which should open up assist opportunities.
The Sixers beat the Magic 2 out of 3 this season, with 2 of the games going over the total, but the last meeting was on January 9th. The first two games went way over the total in the 227.5 range, and now we're looking at a total of 222. Playoff droppage of the total. Orlando won 45 games this year and also went over the total 45 times. I like how the Magic won five of their last six games, scoring 123 or more in four of the wins. They play better when playing freely. In two of the Sixers' wins in their last 10 games, they scored 153 or more. They also scored 126 on Milwaukee Sunday. Over is the play.
BetMGM is the only book of ours that is showing Andre Drummond for Wednesday's game (it's live) vs. Orlando, and I want to take this now because I think when the rest post it goes to at least 20 if not higher. No Joel Embiid, because of course not, so Drummond should be looking at 30 minutes or so if not hurt or in foul trouble or in a blowout, and I don't see a rout anyways. Not completely out of the question he gets close on rebounds alone as Drummond closed the season with three straight games of at least 12 boards and easily topped this number in each.
