The Orlando Magic head back on the road but finally with some reinforcements as Gary Harris and Wendell Carter are expected to return to face the Chicago Bulls.
Orlando Magic (4-11) at Chicago Bulls (6-9)
Time/TV: 8 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line: Bulls by 8.5
Tickets: $68-$90,000 on StubHub
Season Series: Tonight in Chicago; Jan. 28 in Orlando; Feb. 13 in Chicago
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 99.1 | 110.2 | 113.5 | 53.5 | 29.6 | 17.0 | 28.8 |
| Chicago | 100.9 | 109.6 | 110.8 | 52.9 | 26.6 | 15.4 | 27.0 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic did not exactly establish their base at home, but they did take some important steps forward. And the most important step forward will come Friday night in Chicago when the team is set to get Gary Harris back for his debut game this season and Wendell Carter back from a one-game absence. That will be some needed relief.
But the Magic have a big challenge heading back out on the road. Orlando is still winless away from the Amway Center and there are some concerning signs that the team is not doing the things that typically travel. Namely their defense. That may improve as they get healthier.
The Chicago Bulls are an interesting matchup for that reason. The Bulls have plenty of star power in Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. They have established a strong base defensively. But there are weaknesses the Magic can exploit and the Bulls’ offense is not likely to run away from them. Unless Orlando commits turnovers to feed a potent fast break.
3 Keys To Watch
Battle for the paint
The Orlando Magic have established one thing offensively — their ability to get into the paint and score inside.
Orlando is averaging 51.7 points in the paint per game, ninth in the league. That is where they get the bulk of their offense and offensive push. Even in the last four games without Paolo Banchero, the Magic are averaging 49.0 points in the paint per game.
This is something the Magic can build their offense on. It is something the team has built its offense on as the team has struggled to spray out to the 3-point line.
This is doubled by solid play on the offensive glass. Orlando averages 19.8 second-chance points per game, third in the NBA. The team is 13th in the league at 29.6 percent offensive rebound rate. Orlando does a good job being a presence in the paint.
The Chicago Bulls can struggle there. But the team has done well to lock down the glass at least.
They give up 49.3 points in the paint per game (18th in the league). But Chicago is eighth in the league in defensive rebound rate at 73.2 percent and they give up only 11.4 second-chance points per game.
The battle in this game may well come in the paint.
Home/Road Split
The Orlando Magic are a poor shooting team. There is still no getting around it. Orlando is not looking for 3-pointers either. The team’s 3-point attempts are still fairly low.
But the splits in their shooting between home and road are still noticeable. And worth mentioning as the team heads back on the road.
Orlando is 24th in the league shooting 33.6 percent from beyond the arc for the season. At the Amway Center, Orlando is shooting 36.5 percent from beyond the arc. It is a big reason they had a big boost offensively during the homestand.
But on the road, Orlando is shooting only 29.3 percent. It has been so long since the team was on the road that it is reasonable to think the team’s shooting fortunes have changed. But the comforts of home are gone. The Magic have to be more focused.
Wendell Carter effect
The Orlando Magic are certainly happy to have Gary Harris back. But they are certainly ecstatic that Wendell Carter’s absence was short-lived. Carter has been vitally important to the team.
The Magic have a team-best -0.5 net rating with Carter on the floor. They post a 108.4 defensive rating with Carter on the floor. Carter is one of the big stabilizers for this team. He is a solid screener — 5.1 screen assists per game according to NBA.com is seventh in the league.
Carter is just someone who makes everything work on both offense and defense. If anything Orlando needs to find a way to keep him involved, whether that is as a screener and a scorer.
He certainly brings his best against his former team in the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 22.5 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game against the Bulls last season.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.