It is Round 3 for the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic in the 2022-23 NBA regular season. The Knicks won the first two games of this regular-season series. Can they complete a sweep of Orlando? Or, will the Magic finally nail a win versus the New York?

Catch this game live on Friday, March 24, at 7 AM, Manila time.

Away: New York Knicks (42-32/22-15 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Jalen Brunson
  • SG: Quentin Grimes
  • SF: RJ Barrett
  • PF: Julius Randle
  • C: Mitchell Robinson

Consecutive losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home (140-134) last Tuesday and to the Miami Heat on the road (127-120) Thursday have cooled off the New York Knicks. But a timely visit to Disneyland could bring the smiles back on the faces of Julius Randle and company. After all, they are 2-0 so far this season against the Orlando Magic. 

In addition to that, the Knicks have won all of their last three games in Orlando, dating back to 2021. They have also covered the spread in each of those contests. The last time the Knicks were at Amway Center Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle scored 25 and 22 points, respectively, in a 102-98 win on Feb. 7. New York’s defense has been leaky of late, but it should still be able to handle Orlando, which is just 23rd in the NBA with a 55.3 eFG% and 25th with a high turnover rate of 13.3%.

Home: Orlando Magic (30-43/17-19 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Markelle Fultz
  • SG: Gary Harris
  • SF: Franz Wagner
  • PF: Paolo Banchero
  • C: Wendell Carter Jr.

It’s been an up-and-down ride for the Magic of late. After pulling a rabbit out of the hat with a 113-108 upset road win over the Los Angeles Clippers last Sunday, Orlando got taken down by the Los Angeles Lakers the following day, still in Hollywood, 113-105. The Magic would pick themselves up Wednesday with a 122-112 win against the Washington Wizards at home. 

On a full day of rest and without the need to travel for Friday’s game, the Magic should be in prime form to ambush the Knicks in Florida. Given the struggles of the Knicks of late, it also feels as though this is a perfect time for Orlando to pounce on the Knicks. In their last four games, the Magic have shot 50% or better three times. The starting backcourt of Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris can be expected to be much better this time around compared to when they combined for 24 points in the last meeting with the Knicks. Fultz has averaged 20.5 points (54.8 FG%) while Harris has put up 10.8 points (48.3 FG%) in the last four Magic outings, during which Orlando has gone 4-0 ATS.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Knicks (-3) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (228.5) hits the Over.