Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards Prediction: Can Franz Wagner Light Up the Scoreboard?
Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards Prediction: Can Franz Wagner Light Up the Scoreboard?
The Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic meet for their third meeting of the season tonight in the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The Magic enter this game with a 17-11 record, as they sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference after missing the playoffs last year. The Wizards, meanwhile, sit at an abysmal 5-23 due to their poor defense, and they are second-last in the Eastern Conference, ahead of just the lowly Pistons. What can we expect in tonight's matchup?
Magic vs. Wizards Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date:Â December 26, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: NBA League Pass
Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards Prediction
The Magic won both of the first two meetings back on November 29th and December 1st, and the storyline of both games was Franz Wagner. Wagner had 31 points in both games, which led the Magic in both games, helping secure the wins. Wagner is a third-year forward for the Magic who has been a pivotal piece of this new-look team.
Paolo Banchero leads the team with 21.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, but Wagner is right behind him with 20.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. The 6' 10" forward out of Michigan has helped put the Magic back on the map, and they are 7.5-point favorites to beat the Wizards again tonight to move to 18-11.
Wagner did so well against the Wizards because they don't play defense very well, especially against forwards. In fact, the Wizards give up THE MOST points to small forwards specifically, allowing 25.51 points per game to small forwards. Deni Avdija and Kyle Kuzma are not good defenders, and the Wizards give up big games to opposing forwards like no one else, so it's no surprise why the Magic are a bad matchup for them with Wagner and Banchero.
The Wizards have also recently overtaken the Pacers for the number-one fastest pace in the NBA. They are the fastest team in the NBA in both their shooting on offense and giving up points quickly on defense. Their games are always high-scoring, which allows more possessions and more shots around the board, favoring Wagner even more.
Franz Wagner is averaging 20.3 points per game this season, but his line for tonight is 23.5 points. That is no mistake, as even the books know this is a great matchup for Wagner. He is facing the worst defense against small forwards, which also happens to be the team that plays at the fastest pace in the league. Wagner can easily hit 30+ points again tonight like he did in both of the first two meetings this season, but we only need 24.
Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards Pick
Pick: Franz Wagner Over 23.5 Points -115 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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Article Author
Ben Rajavuori is a handicapper out of Minneapolis, MN. He has been creating sports content for almost four years now and is an expert in all things NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, and NCAAB. Ben thrives on diving deep into statistics to find the best angle on every bet. You can follow him on Twitter @WeBeatTheSpread.