The Orlando Magic return home to face another homecoming as Anfernee Simons returns to Central Florida on a hot streak for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Orlando Magic (8-36) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (17-25)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line via WynnBet: Blazers by 2
Tickets: $13-$600 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Tonight in Orlando; Feb. 8 in Portland
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 98.4 | 110.3 | 114.9 | 52.5 | 27.1 | 13.8 | 26.0 |
| Orlando | 98.5 | 103.1 | 112.2 | 49.4 | 26.6 | 15.0 | 22.2 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic got the win under the belt they so desperately needed. That should give the team a shot of confidence, even if Saturday’s tired performance knocked them back down a peg a bit. Nothing is promised or guaranteed in the league. But the Magic finally saw their hard work and all these near misses give them a result. The process is not just a process.
At least it would be if they can follow it up with another win. With a few home games — and the chance of a few more players returning soon — the Magic have the chance to build some momentum and build off the positive play they have been preaching in the last two weeks.
The Portland Trail Blazers are going through their own struggles too. Damian Lillard is out with an abdominal injury that required surgery. The Trail Blazers are expected to have CJ McCollum back after a 19-game absence. But Portland has had its struggles in the meantime. The Portland Trail Blazers won just their third road game in Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards.
3 Keys To Watch
The Jalen Suggs effect
Players returning from injury is going to be a big theme for the Orlando Magic in the next week (and certainly a big factor in this game with CJ McCollum’s impending return). But let’s talk about what Jalen Suggs did for the Magic in his first two games back from his thumb injury.
Suggs scored 28 total points, dished out nine total assists (against nine turnovers) and shot 12 of 19 (63.2-percent). He showed a lot more poise and patience on the ball and looked more in control of his game. The turnovers are the only thing he needs to get under control. That is probably a product of him jumping right into the fray.
But the Magic were better for him being out there. Orlando had offensive struggles when Suggs was out there — small samples sizes and a poor game Saturday did not help. He was a key part of the team’s 15-2 run to beat the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. And the Magic’s defense felt those effects. The Magic had a 96.0 defensive rating with Suggs on the floor this weekend.
These are small sample sizes. But the eye test passes muster too. Suggs has helped this team out a ton.
Anfernee Simons’ homecoming
Whenever a player gets injured, especially a key one like Damian Lillard, there is a lot of hand-wringing. How will a team built around a singular player replace his production? How will they survive and stay in the playoff race? Who will step up?
It is a period of questioning for sure. But it is also an opportunity. The kind of opportunity Altamonte Springs-native Anfernee Simons was waiting for. The kind of opportunity he has taken advantage of in the past and is doing so over and over again now.
Simons is averaging 28.3 points per game and shooting 51.3-percent field goal shooting and 45.7-percent from beyond the arc in his last six games. He is adding 8.2 assists per game too. He is doing everything for the Blazers and stepping in as the center of the offense.
Getting McCollum back will help a ton. But this offense will likely still center around Simons.
Back to defense
The Orlando Magic’s backbone is supposed to be their defense. The struggles this year defensively have been well documented. The Magic have not been a great defensive team. But there are some signs of progress.
Orlando is 25th in the league in defensive rating, giving up 112.2 points per 100 possessions. In the last 10 games, the Magic are 17th in the league despite a raw number slip to 112.6 points per 100 possessions. Their most impressive defensive game came Friday when they held the Charlotte Hornets to just 100.9 points per 100 possessions.
If you look at the Magic’s eight limited wins this season, defense has been a pretty consistent theme for them. If Orlando gets down and defends — and the team will have to if it wants to keep up with Portland, who still ranks seventh in offensive rating in January since Damian Lillard went out with an injury.