Thunder vs Magic Picks and Prediction – 12/20/2024

In the first game of a Thursday night NBA on TNT doubleheader, the Oklahoma City Thunder will invade the Kia Center to take on the Orlando Magic. For other NBA action see our NBA Predictions. The Thunder (20-6) have won nine of their previous 11 games and hold a 2.5 game lead over Memphis for the top spot in the Western Conference. In Tuesday’s NBA Emirates Cup Final, Oklahoma City was outscored by 12 points during the third quarter of a 97-81 loss against Milwaukee. 

All-Star G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied a team-high 21 points on an inefficient 8-for-24 shooting performance. Oklahoma City F Jalen Williams scored 18 points on 8-for-20 from the field. Isaiah Hartenstein added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, who missed 27 of 32 three-point attempts. 

The Orlando Magic have won ten of their first 11 home games and are tied with New York for third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite playing without leading scorers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic (17-11) still rank third in the league in defensive efficiency. On Sunday, Orlando trailed by ten points at halftime and missed 21 of 30 three-point attempts during a 100-91 home loss versus New York.

Orlando C Moritz Wagner led all scorers with 32 points (10-15 FG) and six boards in just 26 minutes off the bench. F Tristan da Silva added 20 points on 9-for-17 shooting. G Jalen Suggs missed 15 of 19 field goal attempts and finished with a minus 15 rating. 

Orlando F Paolo Banchero (oblique) has resumed on-court workouts and hopes to return to the lineup next week. The Magic are the worst three-point shooting team in the league and that spells trouble against a suffocating Thunder defense. Take the under. Final Score Prediction, Oklahoma City Thunder win 104-99.