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Orlando Magic vs. Portland Trail Blazers (March 5, 2023): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction

By Philip Rossman-Reich

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 10: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic dribbles during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on January 10, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The Orlando Magic won 109-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 10: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic dribbles during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on January 10, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The Orlando Magic won 109-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic return home from their road trip to start a big four-game homestand against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Orlando Magic (27-37) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (29-34)

Time/TV: 6 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-BLAZERS ON FUBO TV
FOLLOW LIVE: @OMAGICDAILY
Line: Magic by 2.5
Tickets: $24-$5,965 on StubHub
Season Series: Magic 109, Trail Blazers 106 in Portland on Jan. 10; Tonight in Orlando

PaceOff. Rtg.Def. Rtg.eFG%O.Reb.%TO%FTR
Portland98.5116.2117.155.927.614.829.8
Orlando99.3111.2113.853.228.015.329.8

OMD Prediction

The headlines when it comes to the Portland Trail Blazers are on Damian Lillard. It has been a week since his 71-point game and the masterful scoring has continued for him. He is the main focus whenever a team plays the Trail Blazers. And he is the headliner tonight.

That is even with Paolo Banchero playing really well in at least two of his past three games and the Magic have done well to tread water as a roughly .500 team. The Portland Trail Blazers are struggling to make their move right now having lost their last three games since that big win against the Houston Rockets last weekend.

Injuries are again a story. Both Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain) and Gary Harris (left adductor soreness) are listed as QUESTIONABLE. Although Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel reports Wagner will be AVAILABLE tonight.

The Blazers will be without dynamic guard Anfernee Simons (right ankle sprain) and Jusuf Nurkic (left calf strain). That will put more pressure on Lillard to carry the scoring load.

Prediction. 107. 34. 113. 38

3 Keys To Watch

The Franz Effect

The Orlando Magic have not had to miss a lot of games without Franz Wagner this year. The only game he has missed this season was due to the suspension from the December fight with the Detroit Pistons. Wagner has been a picture of consistency and ability throughout his two seasons with the Magic.

So there is at least some hand-wringing about the ankle he sprained during Friday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. Coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game that Franz Wagner should be all right. But is that all right for Sunday’s game or will he need to sit out a game or two to be ready for the playoff push.

More importantly, can Orlando fill in without him? The stats really show how key Wagner is to the Magic’s attack.

The Magic have a +1.0 net rating with Wagner on the floor and a -9.7 net rating with Wagner off the floor. Almost every key player has a worse net rating with Wagner off the court. He just connects everything and remains a threat at all points. And that does not get into how underrated his defense is.

If he misses Sunday’s game, the team will feel his absence greatly.

Dame Time

Any time we talk about the Portland Trail Blazers, we have to talk about Damian Lillard. He is everything for this team and is having an absolutely stellar season.

Lillard had his 71-point game last week and is averaging 39.3 points per game and 6.7 assists per game in his last 16 games. This is par for the course for Lillard. He is just a scoring dynamo for the team. And even teams’ best efforts to blitz him often get them in trouble because he consistently makes the right play and pass.

The Orlando Magic are going to have to hope he is not in rhythm from beyond the arc too. The Blazers could outshoot the Magic from deep just on Lillard’s makes alone. It is about containing Lillard and picking how you want him to try to beat you rather than stopping him fully.

Fultz Force

The primary defensive assignment for Damian Lillard is likely going to fall to Markelle Fultz. And he deserves some flowers for his play of late too– and that honestly goes on both ends of the floor.

Fultz is averaging 15.7 points per game and 5.1 assists per game in his last 14 games. He is shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and 89.7 percent from the foul line in that time. That is quite a boost offensively. Fultz is able to work his way into the paint and shoot mid-range jumpers while still finishing at the rim.

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Fultz’s defense deserves some special recognition too. That is a bit tougher to measure, but his size has made him difficult to get around and he is a tough guy to get past. That is going to make for an interesting matchup with Lillard and the Blazers on Sunday night.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.