Magic vs. Timberwolves injury report, odds, spread: Evan Fournier returning from injury; Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio out in COVID protocols

It's a pair of struggling teams meeting Wednesday in the Twin Cities as the Orlando Magic, losers of six straight, visit the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have dropped nine of 10. Orlando will get back starting guard Evan Fournier for the first time in about three weeks, while Minnesota will be without its best player in Karl-Anthony Towns and starting guard Ricky Rubio – both are in the NBA's health and safety protocols. The Magic are 4-point favorites on the William Hill Sportsbook NBA odds.

Fournier hasn't played since New Year's Eve due to back spasms but officially will be a go. He's not a star by any means in averaging 14.8 points per game but is shooting 51.1 percent from the field overall and is arguably the team's best three-point shooter – that is needed considering the Magic are last in the league in three-point shooting percentage at 31.7.

Orlando got off to a 4-1 start with Fournier but has just two victories since, although a big reason for that was the season-ending torn ACL suffered by starting point guard Markelle Fultz. The Magic remain without reserves Al-Farouq Aminu, Mo Bamba and Michael Carter-Williams due to injury or protocols.

As for Minnesota, Towns revealed over the weekend he had tested positive for COVID – he lost his mother and other family members to the disease earlier this year – so the former No. 1 overall pick will not play for a while. Towns was averaging 22.0 points and 12.5 rebounds. The Wolves are 2-2 with him in the lineup (he also missed games due to injury) and 1-7 without.

Rubio and forward Juancho Hernangomez were placed in quarantine last Friday, so they won't take the court again until next week. Thus, the Minnesota starting lineup Wednesday will be D'Angelo Russell and the fairly unknown quartet of Malik Beasley, Naz Reid, Jarred Vanderbilt and Josh Okogie.

The Timberwolves and Magic both entered the NBA as expansion teams in 1989-90. Orlando swept last season and has covered the spread in six of its past seven at Minnesota.

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