The Denver Nuggets are quietly moving through the gears this season, and they’ll look to speed past the wobbling Orlando Magic on Sunday night.

Orlando has slipped out of the Top 6 in the East despite Paolo Banchero’s return, and my Nuggets vs. Magic predictions signal more trouble ahead against a balanced Denver offense.

My NBA picks favor the visitors in this January 19 battle, including more hot shooting from rejuvenated point guard Jamal Murray.

Nuggets vs Magic prediction

My best bet
Nuggets -4.5 1H (-110 at bet365)

My analysis
For all the talk about the Denver Nuggets’ sluggish start and faltering supporting cast, Michael Malone’s men sit fourth in the West with a +4.4 point differential and the league’s No. 3 offense in points per game. Put simply: the 2023 champs are going to be heard from.

Denver has won five of its last six games, and this feels like a good spot for the visitors, given that the Orlando Magic are coming off a pair of blowout losses. I’m a little wary of laying the full spread, with the Magic boasting a 14-7 mark at home, but this relatively small first-half spread jumps out as a value pick. 

The Nuggets racked up 67 first-half points against the Miami Heat on Friday, and they’ve recorded a +5.7 1H edge across their last three contests.

Despite Orlando’s feisty defense, I’m rolling with Nikola Jokic and a Denver offense that ranks second in the NBA in FG% and third in points per game.

The Magic have dropped four of their past five games, and they’re still missing Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Goga Bitadze’s absence with a hip issue is another underrated storyline, with Jokic poised to feast in the paint against the hosts’ depleted frontcourt.

Meanwhile, the visitors have rosier news on the injury front, with Aaron Gordon set to return against his former team and take on a share of the key Paolo Banchero assignment.

The Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games, and I expect another clinical effort tonight from a team on the move in a crowded Western Conference playoff pack.

Nuggets vs Magic same-game parlay

Nuggets -4.5 1H

Jamal Murray Over 19.5 points

Christian Braun Over 0.5 3-pointers

It’s been a big stretch for Jamal Murray, and it changes Denver’s title hopes if he can sustain this All-Star level play. Murray dropped 30 points against the Heat on Friday, on the heels of 45 points against the Dallas Mavericks earlier in the week.

This 19.5 O/U line feels low to me, especially as Murray is shooting 45% from beyond the arc this month and won’t have to deal with Suggs on the perimeter.

Christian Braun has also caught the eye this month, including 22 points on 10-for-11 shooting against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. He’s not a high-volume 3-point marksman, but I like his chances of knocking down at least one triple tonight.

Braun is shooting 37% from downtown this year, and he’s hit two or more 3-pointers four times in January. Plus, playing next to Jokic and Murray is a recipe for open looks.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Nuggets vs Magic odds

Nuggets vs Magic live odds

Nuggets vs Magic opening odds

• Spread: Denver -6 | Orlando +6
• Moneyline: Denver -234 | Orlando +201
• Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222

Odds courtesy of bet365

Nuggets vs Magic spread and Over/Under analysis

• The Nuggets are 13-8 on the road this season, and they’re big favorites to get payback here against a Magic team that won 122-120 in Denver earlier this month.
• The hosts are 4-6 ATS in their past 10 contests, and they’ve only hit the 1Q moneyline in 27 of their last 70 outings.
• The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these teams, and the Nuggets have scored at least 119 points in five of those matchups. The Over is 25-15-1 in Denver’s 41 games this season, while the Under is 18-25 for Orlando.
• The Magic have fallen short of the 100-point mark in five of their last 10 contests, and the Under is 27-12 in their past 39 games at Kia Center.

Nuggets vs Magic trend

The Nuggets have cashed in the 1H Over in 26 of their last 39 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Magic.

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