Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers (Jan. 15, 2020): How To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic begin the Los Angeles gauntlet as they first take on the Los Angeles Lakers, hoping to score the upset against one of the Western Conference’s best teams.
Orlando Magic (19-21) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (33-7)
Time/TV:
10:30 p.m./FOX Sports Florida
FOLLOW LIVETickets:
2020 Season Series:
in Orlando on Dec. 11; Tonight in Los Angeles
Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orlando | 98.6 | 105.1 | 105.1 | 49.0 | 26.6 | 13.1 | 25.8 |
LA Lakers | 100.4 | 113.1 | 104.4 | 54.8 | 28.2 | 14.7 | 26.3 |
OMD Prediction
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the hottest teams in the league having won nine straight games. This is even without Anthony Davis, who is questionable for Wednesday’s game and likely out. But this Lakers team still has plenty. They can hit from the outside pretty consistently and LeBron James is really dialed in. Without Jonathan Isaac and with Aaron Gordon slowed down, defending this team will be tough. But they did it well in the previous meeting (with Isaac, mind you). Where Orlando really struggled was to score. The magic just will not have the offensive firepower to stay with Los Angeles if Orlando’s defense slips. And right now, the Magic just are not a 48-minute team.
1) The Orlando Magic have not time to rest after Monday’s win. Upcoming is a Los Angeles gauntlet, Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel writes. The Magic know they will need their A-game to win, John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com writes.
2) The Orlando Magic made a roster move, cutting Josh Magette and signing forward Gary Clark to a 10-day contract. Adding Clark will bring back some versatility to the Magic’s forward position.
3) With the trade deadline four weeks away, the Orlando Magic are balancing two truths — they are a playoff team and they have a ceiling — as they weigh what to do next.
4) The Los Angeles Lakers know they need Anthony Davis for the long haul, even with some short-term success without him, Tania Gangiuli of the Los Angeles Times writes. Davis is inching closer to a return even though he is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
5) Markelle Fultz showed maturity in bouncing back for a big performance in the win over the Sacramento Kings, Jean Racine writes.
6) Dwight Howard is a walking motivational speech as he savors every moment of his comeback season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll writes.
7) The Los Angeles Lakers’ bench players are stepping up with the injuries the team has faced, Bill Oram of The Athletic writes.
8) The Orlando Magic’s trip to Sacramento was a special one for Evan Fournier. It was the Sacramento Kings and guard Mike Bibby inspired Evan Fournier to play basketball, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes. Fournier got to meet Bibby for the first time after the Magic’s win Monday.
9) Nikola Vucevic may not be an All-Star this year, but he is still the most important player for the Orlando Magic.
10) Aaron Gordon might well be the difference between the Orlando Magic reaching their potential or just sneaking into the playoffs, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes.
11) Garrett Townsend of Orlando Pinstriped Post breaks down how the Orlando Magic nearly lost another late lead.
12) Star performances have continued to make the Orlando Magic’s life hard.
13) The Orlando Magic picked up some momentum thanks to a return of their elite-level defense.