Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets 1/23/19: Starting Lineups, Matchup Breakdown, Odds, Daily Fantasy, Betting
Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview
Tonight, the Orlando Magic (20-27) travel to Brooklyn to face the red-hot Nets (25-23). The Magic are looking to avenge last Friday’s loss to the Nets, where they held a 21-point lead before eventually succumbing to a 115-117 defeat.
On the other side, the Nets are eager to build on the momentum that has lead them to an 8-2 record over their last 10 games and has pushed them into the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. While the Nets have gained momentum, the Magic have faltered after a surprising start, and they now find themselves 2.5 games out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
Last week, Magic center Nikola Vucevic told the press, “Every game for us on the board is like a game 7. We don’t have any margin for error anymore.” Down the stretch, winning against fellow mid-tier Eastern Conference teams, such as the Nets, will be imperative as the Magic look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
TV Schedule
Date: 01/23/19
Time: 7:30pm ET
Arena: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Channel: FSFL, YES
Orlando Magic Starting Lineup
| Position | Starter |
|---|---|
| PG | DJ Augustin |
| SG | Evan Fournier |
| SF | Jonathan Isaac |
| PF | Aaron Gordon |
| C | Nikola Vucevic |
Magic Analysis
On Martin Luther King Jr Day, the Magic were able to take care of the Hawks in Atlanta after losing their previous three games. Orlando was led by shooting guard Evan Fournier, who poured in 29 points and added 7 assists in the 122-103 victory. Budding center Nikola Vucevic, who many experts believe will be named to his first career All-Star game, also had a big night, collecting 29 points and 14 rebounds to record his 31st double-double of the season. In addition, point guard DJ Augustin and 3-point specialist Terrence Ross contributed 15 and 16 points respectively in order to secure the Magic win.
The Magic will likely be bolstered by the return of young star Aaron Gordon, who missed the team’s last game after leaving last Friday’s loss against the Nets with a sore lower back. Gordon was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice, and he is expected to join the team for Wednesday’s game, though it is uncertain how many minutes Gordon will spend on the court. The Magic hope the addition of Gordon, who is averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season, will add an extra spark to the team’s offense.
As Gordon eases back into play, Jonathan Isaac, a second-year power forward out of Florida State, will likely continue to see big minutes. Isaac disappointed against the Nets last week, scoring only 9 points during his 33 minutes of play; the Magic continue to struggle to figure out how to use his lanky 6’10” frame on both sides of the court. The former 6th overall pick will look to make an impact in this game in an effort to prove that he continues to deserve playing time, even when Gordon is fully healthy again.
Magic Quick Links: Magic Starting Lineup, Magic Roster, Magic Depth Chart, Magic Injuries, Magic News, Magic Schedule
Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup
| Position | Starter |
|---|---|
| PG | D’Angelo Russell |
| SG | Joe Harris |
| SF | Treveon Graham |
| PF | Rodions Kurucs |
| C | Jarrett Allen |
Contents
Nets Analysis
In early December, the Nets looked to be on pace to finish another season in the basement of the Eastern Conference. After finishing 28-54 in the 2017-18 season, the Nets limped to an 8-18 start this season, and their three-year playoff drought appeared destined to continue for another season. However, since December 7th, the Nets have embarked on a 17-5 run that includes an 8-2 record over their last ten games. This improbable run has vaulted the once lowly Nets to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Although the Nets have been streaking, they only sit two spots ahead of the final playoff team in the East, but a win against the Magic would push them towards securing a postseason berth for the first time since 2015.
A big key to the Nets’ recent success has been the emergence of third-year point guard D’Angelo Russell. Over the last 10 games, Russell has averaged 24 points, including 31 in Monday’s win against the Kings, and 40 against the Magic last Friday. In response to his performances last week, Russell was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career. A major part of Russell’s recent success can be attributed to his increased efficiency from 3-point range. Against the Kings, Russell nailed 7 threes, and his 8-12 performance from behind the arc sparked the Nets’ comeback against the Magic in the teams’ previous meeting.
In addition, Brooklyn has been relying on receiving meaningful contributions from their two unheralded starting forwards: Joe Harris and Rodions Kurucs. Harris scored 19 points in Monday’s win over the Kings, while Kurucs, a second-round rookie from Latvia, added 16 points while shooting 70% from the field. Although not superstars, the Nets will need production from their efficient forwards in order to complement their flashy guard trio of Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Shabazz Napier.
Nets Quick Links: Nets Starting Lineup, Nets Roster, Nets Depth Chart, Nets Injuries, Nets News, Nets Schedule
Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds
The Nets have opened up as a six-point favorite for tonight’s matchup. After last week’s 2 point win in Orlando, the Nets have been projected to win big as they return to Brooklyn. On the season, the Nets have one of the league’s best records ATS at 27-21, and they have gone 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. The over/under sits at 216.5 points, which is significantly lower than the 232 points the teams combined for in last week’s matchup.
Odds & Line Movement Links: Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets, Vegas Odds (All NBA Games Today)
Bet on Matchup
If you’re in Pennsylvania, you can bet on this matchup. Sports betting is legal in PA. Our top rated online sportsbook bonus offers can be found in our articles: Fanduel Sportsbook promo code, DraftKings Sportsbook promo code & Pointsbet promo code.
DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Picks
Both teams offer valuable options for tonight’s DraftKings slate. Magic center Nikola Vucevic is the most expensive option of the game ($9,300) but has scored over 45 fantasy points in his last four games, and the double-double machine looks poised to dominate against a Nets team that ranks dead last against centers. Aaron Gordon is also an intriguing buy at $6,700, but he may suffer from a lack of minutes as he returns from injury.
For the Nets, D’Angelo Russell is listed at a hefty $8,000, but the point guard is coming off back to back games with over 55 fantasy points, including last week’s 58.5 point outburst against the Magic. On the cheaper side, backup Nets guard Shabazz Napier has dropped to $3,900. Napier scored 27 fantasy points against the Magic last week, but his limited minutes since Russell’s recent emergence are a cause for concern among fantasy owners.
Find all of our Fanduel and Draftkings projections here: https://www.lineups.com/nba/nba-fantasy-basketball-projections.
