The Orlando Magic take on the Brooklyn Nets in a Saturday night NBA contest from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The Nets are riding high, coming off two huge wins against the Nuggets and Knicks. They finally got word from Kyrie Irving that he will be able to return on Saturday if he chooses to and passes a COVID-19 test.
They also just got the 2018 MVP and six-time All-NBA shooting guard James Harden from the Rockets, who, by the way, may be available for this game.
The Magic, however, are not so lucky. They lost Markelle Fultz for the year due to a torn ACL. The lone bright spot for the Magic has been and has continued to be center Nikola Vucevic.
He is averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two blocks and four assists per game.
Reinforcements have arrived
The Nets have acquired Harden for a total of four picks and Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. Harden must pass a physical and then a COVID-19 test to get on the court for his new team.
LeVert was averaging just above 18 points, to go along with six assists and four boards. Allen was just getting in the groove of being the starting center too.
Allen averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds a game. The Nets finally got word from Irving’s team that stated, “Kyrie has expressed an interest in returning.”
This is a huge step to completing the big three they just assembled in Brooklyn. Irving could return at some point next week, and Harden will make his debut either Saturday night against the Magic or Monday night against the Bucks.
Needing A Win
The Magic are in the middle of a four-game losing streak, losing to the Rockets, Mavericks, Bucks, and Celtics over the last week or so. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier with the Nets, Knicks, and Pacers coming up in the coming days. Since the Fultz injury, some key players have stepped up in a big way for Orlando.
Shooting guard Terrence Ross has stepped into the starting role nicely as he’s averaging 16 points, four rebounds and two assists per game. The real reason the Magic aren’t totally underwater yet is because of Vucevic, who is averaging a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds to go with four assists and one steal per game.
Odds And Pick
The odds have the Nets favored by nine points in this one, with an over/ under of 225.5.
My free pick of the night is Kevin Durant’s point prop, the over at 24.5, and the over of 225.5.
For more picks, check out our picks page.