Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns (Nov. 5, 2026): 3 Things to Watch, Odds and Prediction

• How To Watch: MagicTV 27 (Orlando); DAZN-Orlando (Orlando); Suns+ (Phoenix); 3TV/AZFS (Phoenix); NBA League Pass (National)
• STREAM MAGIC-SUNS ON FUBO TV
• How to Listen: 96.9 The Game (Orlando); AZ Sports 98.7 FM (Phoenix); SiriusXM Channel 217 (Suns); SiriusXM Channel 901 (Magic); SiriusXM Channel 903 (Magic); NBA Audio League Pass (National)
• FOLLOW LIVE: @OMAGICDAILY
• Tickets: $10-$339+ on StubHub
• 2027 Season Series: Tonight in Phoenix; March 9 in Orlando

Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns: Stats and 3 Keys to Watch

1. What makes the Suns' defense so bad?

The Orlando Magic should be looking at this road trip as a bit of relief. The Magic have played five of the top-11 defenses in the league in their first seven games. The one that was not was the Toronto Raptors.

In their next five games, they will face five of the worst nine defenses in the league.

To say the least, the Magic will get some opportunity to figure out their offense. It starts with Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns, who boast the league's worst defense at 124.5 points allowed per 100 possessions.

The question is whether the Magic can exploit what makes them so bad.

The Suns rank 21st in opponent 3-point attempts per game and 29th in opponent 3-point field goal percentage, giving up 40.3 percent shooting on 39.3 attempts per game. Phoenix gives up only 18.5 wide-open 3-pointers per game. That suggests there is some shooting luck at play. But there should be plenty of attempts out there.

On the interior, Phoenix gives up 46.3 points in the paint per game, 13th in the league. So they are not getting crushed in the paint either.

The Suns' big weakness is in the possession game -- the same area the Magic have struggled.

They give up a league-leading 19.8 second-chance points per game and are last with a 60.2 percent defensive rebound rate.

For the Magic to win, they must win the glass on both ends. Orlando is 25th in offensive rebound rate at 28.9 percent and 29th with 12.9 second-chance points per game.

This game will be about will and which weakness is resolved.

2. The possession game

The biggest factor in a game like this with two struggling teams will ultimately come down to who wins the possession game. Who gets that extra offensive rebound? Who forces that turnover? How does the team capitalize on mistakes?

It sure seems like there will be a lot of mistakes in this game.

Early in the season, the Orlando Magic were good on the offensive glass, but that has tailed off considerably in recent games.

Then again, the Suns are 25th in second chance points per game despite a solid 31.1 percent offensive rebound rate.

Phoenix is 10th in points off turnovers with 20.0 per game. And that is where this game will turn.

The Suns are seventh with a 16.9 percent opponent turnover rate. The Magic struggle with turnovers this season.

Orlando will need to win the possesison game and prevent the turnovers that have plagued the team to get the win. As much as the Magic want this to be a get-right game, the Suns are thinking the same thing.

3. It's the shooting

All of this gets back to one major problem for both the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns early in the season.

The possession game and all the little things alleviate the pressure put on the teams' shooting. But this game will be about who makes their shots. Both teams are struggling so much on defense that the game comes down to who actually makes the other team pay for those mistakes.

The Magic are shooting 34.3 percent from three compared to the Suns' 33.9 percent. They are both taking about 38 3-pointers per game.

The Magic are shooting 36.1 percent on 19.0 wide-open 3-point attempts. The Suns are shooting 36.7 percnet on 18.2 of these attempts.

Orlando gives up 37.1 percent on16.6 wide-open 3-point attempts per game. Phoenix is giving up 43.2 percent on 18.5 of these attempts per game.

This is about who actually makes shots. The Magic have won both games shooting better than 40 percent from three. Orlando must find a way to win without shooting. But that is wher things begin.

Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns: Injury Report & Projected Lineups

Orlando Magic Injury Report

• Paolo Banchero - OUT (Right High Ankle Sprain)
• Jalen Suggs - OUT (Right Knee Contusion/Bone Bruise)
• Noah Penda - OUT (Right Partially Torn Hamstring)
• Jonathan Isaac - OUT (Left Knee Injury Management)
• Izaiyah Nelson - OUT (Left Ankle Injury Recovery)

Phoenix Suns Injury Report

• Mark Williams - OUT (Left Shoulder Surgery)
• Jordan Goodwin - OUT (Right Calf Soreness)
• Rasheer Fleming - OUT (Left Ankle Sprain)

Projected Starters

Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns: Prediction

2026-27 Record: 2-5/2-5 ATS

Neither the Phoenix Suns nor the Orlando Magic have gotten off to the starts either team imagined.

Both likely saw themselves as potential playoff teams with their Play-In appearances last year. Both believed they had built solid defensive foundations.

None of that has carried over into the start of this season. And both seem to be in a bit of an urgent state to get things right.

This feels like a turning point game for one of these teams. Just a chance to face a difficult team that will allow them to get their footing. Both teams need to approach this game with that kind of urgency.

The Magic know they have much more in reserve with the injuries they have faced early in the season. And like the Suns, they have faced a lot of streaking teams to start the season. They both need a breather and likely view this opponent as that breather.

The Magic might have a little edge because the Phoenix Suns lost 132-119 last night to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was another low.

But that is also a reason for the Suns to lock into attention and find their rhythm.

This is a big game for both teams. Their records do not reflect their talent. And somebody is getting a deep-breath win on Thursday.

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