<p>It's not a game that Orlando will necessarily be looking forward to going into, as they have a terrible record against the Thunder in recent meetings. Still, while the Thunder have been exceptional in the West, the Magic have been performing their own tricks in the East…</p><h2>Quick Picks</h2><p><strong>Our pick:</strong> OKC to win</p><p><strong>Value bet:</strong> Magic to cover the handicap</p><p><strong>Long shot:</strong> Banchero and Bane to both have 25+ points</p><h2>Betting Preview</h2><p>This matchup has the potential to be extremely interesting, with both teams having enjoyed long winning streaks. At the time of writing, the two teams had been on a seven-game stretch; the Thunder were 9-1, while the Magic were 8-2.</p><p>However, while Orlando have been in great form recently and at the right time of the NBA regular-season, the Thunder presents a challenge that has been far too difficult for them to overcome in recent years.</p><p>Over the last 10 meetings, they are 2-8. In the last five, they are winless. It's not the form that will fill them with confidence, although their recent displays may give them a little.</p><p>Looking at the regular season in more detail, the Magic are strong at home, boasting a record of 21-11. The Thunder travel well, though, as they are 24-8 for the season. Despite already qualifying for the postseason, they'll want to keep adding wins to their tally for the #1 seed, especially with the San Antonio Spurs still pushing all the way. For those new to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-the-nba">how to bet on the NBA</a>, understanding regular season positioning is crucial heading into the playoffs.</p><h2>Betting Markets to Watch</h2><p>This matchup has the potential to offer punters significant value across various markets, especially given the form both teams have shown.</p><p>The <strong>handicap is perhaps the market with more value</strong> than the moneyline, given there may be an element of unpredictability in this one. While the Magic have been historically poor against the Thunder, this game could be a lot closer than they have been in the past. We think the Magic in the handicap have the ability to cover the spread, even if they are underdogs.</p><p>They've been impressive even without Franz Wagner involved. <strong>Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane</strong> have both been solid performers. <strong>Both to have 25+ points</strong> is worth value, as each of them have hovered around this number consistently.</p><h2>Our Prediction</h2><p>Check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-us/nba">NBA betting odds</a> at Sportsbet.</p><p>When making our betting prediction for this upcoming Magic vs Thunder game, we think it's <strong>likely OKC win</strong>. We cannot look beyond the head-to-head these two teams share, as well as the NBA regular-season form of the two teams. While the Magic have been impressive recently, so have the Thunder, and given they know how to win against Orlando, it's hard to imagine the Magic pulling out the tricks.</p><p>It's why we think there's <strong>value in the Magic handicap</strong>, though. They should cover the spread and keep the game closer than previous encounters have been. Both teams will be eyeing strong positions for the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/nba-playoffs">NBA playoffs betting</a> markets as the regular season winds down.</p><h2>Keep Reading</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/tips">Our experts break down the best NBA picks for today's slate</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/nba-positions-explained-basketball-roles">Point guard to centre — every position on the court explained</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/nba-plus-minus-explained">The plus-minus stat and what it actually tells us</a></li></ul>