Orlando Magic at San Antonio Spurs 10/20/21 - NBA Picks & Predictions

The Orlando Magic open their NBA regular season on the road Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. The Orlando Magic were 21-51 and finished 14th in the Eastern Conference last season. During the off-season Orlando acquired Robin Lopez through free agency and drafted Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner. No longer with the Magic is Otto Porter Jr. Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris are expected to be the starting backcourt for Orlando while Terrence Ross and Chuma Okeke will be the starting forwards with Wendell Carter Jr. at center.

The Magic must start the season without Jonathan Isaac who is recovering from an ACL tear, but Markelle Fultz is expected to play. Suggs is expected to give Orlando instant offense after being drafted out of Gonzaga. However, Orlando is very young and with Isaac still rehabbing from his ACL tear the Magic will be without one of their best offensive players. Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner and Mo Bamba will be the first three off the bench.

San Antonio was 33-39 and finished 10th in the Western Conference last season. The Spurs have added Al-Farouq Aminu, Thaddeus Young, Doug McDermott, Zach Collins, Bryn Forbes, Jacque Landale and drafted Joshua Primo and Joe Weiskamp. No longer with the Spurs are DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills, Rudy Gay, Trey Lyles and Gorgui Dieng. 

Dejounte Murray and Derrick White will be the starting backcourt for San Antonio while Doug McDermott and Keldon Johnson will be the starting forwards and Jakob Poeltl will start at center. Zach Collins will not play until December and Lonnie Walker IV, Devin Vassell and Young will be the first three off the bench. San Antonio has one of the youngest rosters in the NBA and if Collins recovers quickly enough from his foot surgery, will compete for a Western Conference playoff spot.