The New York Knicks (17-7) and Orlando Magic (15-10) will clash in the NBA Cup semifinals at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Las Vegas on Amazon Prime. The winner will advance to the NBA Cup championship game to face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
On some level, this could be a preview of the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks and Magic entered the year as two of the three biggest threats in a wide-open East.
If Saturday’s showdown is an ECF preview, my Knicks vs. Magic prediction offers some insight on how that might go down.
Knicks vs. Magic Prediction: Saturday, Dec. 13
- Knicks moneyline (-175)
Based on the initial NBA betting lines, I prefer New York’s moneyline value (-175) as my Knicks vs. Magic prediction in Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal battle.
This prediction is more of a lean than anything else, as I suggested taking New York at +150 to reach the NBA Cup final before Tuesday’s win over the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinals. I’d rather wait for player props than target the spread or total for this game.
That said, I like the Knicks’ chances of defeating the Magic in Las Vegas. Orlando will be without Franz Wagner, who suffered an injury against New York on Sunday.
In that game, the Knicks earned a 106-100 home win. Jalen Brunson led New York with 30 points, while OG Anunoby added 21 and had a plus-minus of +20. The Knicks have won three straight games since Anunoby’s return from injury, highlighting his importance.
Although the Knicks don’t have the best record in the East, they do have the best net rating (+8.6) in the conference. That mark puts them in a tie for third with the Denver Nuggets, trailing the Thunder and Houston Rockets.
Orlando is ninth in net rating, but I don’t think this team is the same without Wagner. I’d give the edge to the Knicks with a trip to the NBA Cup championship game on the line.
Prediction: Knicks moneyline (-175)
Knicks vs. Magic Odds for NBA Cup
- Knicks spread: -4.5
- Magic spread: +4.5
- Total: 223.5
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