Minnesota Timberwolves vs Orlando Magic Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25
At 7:00 ET, the Magic will host the Timberwolves in a non-conference matchup. Orlando is currently 4th in the Eastern Conference and 1st in the Southeast Division, while Minnesota is 8th in the Western Conference and 3rd in the Northwest Division.
The Timberwolves are favored by 4.5 points and have a moneyline of -191. They have won two straight games and have a record of 19-17. The over/under line for the game is set at 204.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS ORLANDO MAGIC BETTING PICK
The Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -4.5
This game will be played at Kia Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 9th.
WHY BET THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 122-83 in favor of the Timberwolves.
- Our projections have Anthony Edwards finishing with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Timberwolves finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.8% and knocking down 16 threes.
Can The Timberwolves Secure a Win at Orlando?
The Timberwolves improved to 19-17 on the season with a 104-97 win over the Pelicans on Tuesday. Minnesota, favored by four points, covered the spread with the victory. The game’s total points of 201 fell well short of the 221.5 O/U line.
New Orleans went on a 10-0 run, turning a 45-43 deficit into a 53-45 lead. However, Minnesota responded by outscoring the Pelicans 29-21 in the 3rd quarter and held on in the 4th, despite being outscored 22-21.
Anthony Edwards knocked down 7 threes at 63.6% efficiency, finishing with 32 points and 9 rebounds in the Timberwolves’ win over the Pelicans. Edwards hit 14 of his points in the 1st quarter, while Julius Randle added 8 of his 16 points in the opening period.
Minnesota hit 15 threes as a team, shooting 34.1% from deep and 42.7% overall. Naz Reid contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds, with 8 of his points coming in the 4th quarter.
After a rough start, the Timberwolves locked in defensively, allowing just 21 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters and 22 in the 4th to hold the Pelicans to 97 points. Minnesota’s defense was excellent, limiting New Orleans to 37% shooting from the field.
The Timberwolves were particularly effective against the Pelicans’ three-point shooting, holding them to 29% from deep with only 12 made threes. Minnesota also recorded 9 steals and 8 blocks in the game.
Will the Magic Make it Happen at Home?
Orlando improved to 22-16 on the season with a 103-94 road win over the Knicks on Monday. Entering the game as +10.5 point underdogs, the Magic not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The total points for the game were 197, falling short of the 207-point line.
After trailing 28-24 after the first quarter, Orlando took control by winning the second quarter 29-23. They extended their lead by holding the Knicks to 17 points in the third quarter and entered the final period up 75-68. Orlando edged New York 28-26 in the fourth to seal the win.
Cole Anthony led the Magic to a win over the Knicks with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 made threes at 50% shooting from deep. Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points, hitting 3 threes without a miss and shooting 72.7% overall, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 15 points and 3 threes at 50% from beyond the arc.
Orlando shot 50% from the field and 35.5% from three, making 11 threes in the game. Carter scored 9 points in the 4th quarter, while Anthony added 6 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters.
The Magic put together a strong defensive performance on Monday, holding the Knicks to just 94 points. Orlando’s defense was particularly effective in the 3rd quarter, where they allowed only 17 points. Overall, the Magic gave up 28 points in the 1st, 23 in the 2nd, and 26 in the 4th.
Orlando’s perimeter defense was outstanding, limiting New York to 4 made threes on 18% shooting from beyond the arc. The Magic also recorded 7 steals and 5 blocks while sending the Knicks to the free-throw line 22 times, where they made 18.