Orlando Magic vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Odds and Picks (Apr. 3)

• The Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans clash on Wednesday night
• The Wednesday NBA odds favor the Pelicans at home over the Magic
• Read below for Magic vs Pelicans prediction, odds and picks

The New Orleans Pelicans (45-30) and the Orlando Magic (44-31) will face off in a crucial matchup on Wednesday, April 3rd at 8:00 PM EDT at Smoothie King Center. The game will be streamed on Bally Sports Florida and can be streamed on various platforms.

According to ESPN Sportsbook, the Pelicans are -4.5-point favorites against the spread while the Magic are 4.5-point underdogs. The over/under is listed at 208.5 for what could be a low-scoring defensive battle.

Let’s get into our Magic vs Pelicans prediction as we analyze the odds and determine the best picks for tonight’s game.

Orlando Magic vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds

In the Wednesday NBA odds, the Pelicans are -180 moneyline favorites over the Magic, giving them an implied win probability of 64%.

Both teams are currently jockeying for position in the NBA Playoff Bracket, with New Orleans occupying the sixth seed in the West and Orlando holding onto the fourth seed in the East.

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Magic vs Pelicans History

This is the second matchup between the Magic and Pelicans this season, with Orlando prevailing 121-106 in Orlando on March 21st. The Magic shot 54.7 percent on the strength of 33 assists while outrebounding the Pelicans 40-33.

Orlando has covered the spread in four straight meetings and is also 6-0 ATS in the previous six meetings at Smoothie King Center.

Magic Betting Trends

The Magic narrowly escaped with a 104-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, failing to cover as 17-point home favorites. Franz Wagner scored a team-high 20 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Orlando shot a modest 47.4% from the field but managed to secure the win.

The Magic have a lackluster offensive rating of 110.4 (26th in the NBA) but make up for it with a stingy defensive rating of 108.2 (3rd in the NBA), resulting in a net rating of 1.9. Jamahl Mosley’s team is a longshot in the latest NBA Championship odds.

New Orleans’s leading scorer is rookie sensation Paolo Banchero, who averages 22.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Wendell Carter Jr. provides a solid interior presence, averaging 19.5 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game.

The Magic are an impressive 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games, with the “over” cashing in five of Orlando’s last five games.

Pelicans Betting Trends

The Pelicans are coming off a disappointing 124-111 loss against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, failing to cover as 1.5-point home favorites. Zion Williamson led the way with 30 points, but New Orleans struggled defensively, allowing the Suns to shoot 49.4% from the field.

The Pelicans boast an impressive offensive rating of 117.9 (8th in the NBA) and a defensive rating of 112.7 (7th in the NBA), resulting in a net rating of 5.2 (4th in the NBA). Willie Green’s squad is currently massive -20000 favorites to make the postseason in the NBA Playoff odds.

Zion just LOCKED UP Tatum pic.twitter.com/KJnAxaNBas

— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) March 30, 2024

NOP are led by Williamson, who averages 22.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 58.6% from the field. Brandon Ingram chips in with 20.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and team-high 5.8 assists per contest.

However, Ingram is still recovering from a knee injury and will not be available for Wednesday’s game. Jose Alvarado (hip) is also out of the lineup.

The Pelicans have struggled against the spread (ATS) recently, going 1-4 ATS in their last five games. However, the under has hit in 14 of New Orleans’ last 19 games.

Orlando Magic vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction

For our Magic vs Pelicans prediction, we project that these two teams will score less than the posted total. The Magic allow the third-fewest points per game, at 108.2, while the Pelicans rank eighth, giving up just 110.5 ppg.

Some key betting trends support this prediction, including one specific to New Orleans. Following NOP games in which the “over” hit, the ensuing matchup has stayed under the total by an average of nearly 11 points.

These teams have already faced off once this season, with the Magic winning 121-106 in Orlando on March 21st. That game totaled 227 points, but it was an outlier compared to their recent low-scoring trends. Expect this meeting to be more of a defensive battle.

ORL vs NOP Pick:

• Under 208.5 Points (-115)