Trail Blazers vs Magic prediction NBA · Friday, January 22
At a glance
The Orlando Magic (1-3) host the Portland Trail Blazers (3-0) on Friday, January 22 at 7:00 PM ET at Kia Center in NBA action. The Basketlog model gives the Trail Blazers a 66% chance to win and projects a 117-112 score (Trail Blazers – Magic), about 229 total points. This season, the Magic are 0-2 at home and the Trail Blazers are 2-0 on the road. Since the start of the season: 1-3 for the Magic and 3-0 for the Trail Blazers (current streaks: Magic L1, Trail Blazers W3). A close game (margin of 5 points or fewer) happens in only 29% of cases according to the model. Reported injuries: Chris Youngblood (Trail Blazers), Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers), Jonathan Isaac (Magic), Jalen Suggs (Magic), Paolo Banchero (Magic) and Noah Penda (Magic)…. Prediction confidence: medium.
The analysis Model
Slight edge to the Trail Blazers, but the Magic have what it takes to keep it close. The model projects Magic 112 – 117 Trail Blazers, a margin of about 5.3 points in favor of the Trail Blazers and a total around 229 points. Expect a game at a standard NBA pace. The Magic will be without Jonathan Isaac or Jalen Suggs (and 3 others). The Trail Blazers will be without Chris Youngblood or Shaedon Sharpe. Early season: the numbers still lean heavily on last season, so confidence stays cautious.
- The overall strength gap (-2.3 vs +3.0 pts/game) is the main factor.
- The Magic need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Trail Blazers' offense (118.2 pts/game) is the more productive of the two.
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
PORORL
Players to watch
Trail Blazers
Deni AvdijaF · #822.3pts / game
Ja MorantG · #16.3assists
Donovan ClinganC · #239.3reboundsMagic
Franz WagnerF · #2219.5pts / gameFranz WagnerF · #226.0assists
Wendell Carter Jr.C · #349.0reboundsRecent form
POR
110-98L
128-118W
124-83W128-120W
136-129ORL
136-115L
132-125L
115-93W
111-102L
129-99
ORL
Second opinion
Our model compared with ESPN's public model (BPI). When they agree, the prediction is more solid.
✓ Both models pick the same favorite.
Team comparison
| POR | ORL | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-0 | Record | 1-3 |
| 118.2 | Points scored / game | 113.6 |
| 114.7 | Points allowed / game | 116.2 |
| +3.0 | Adjusted margin / game | -2.3 |
| W3 | Current streak | L1 |
| 3-0 | Last 10 games | 1-3 |
| 2-0 road | Home / road record | 0-2 home |
| 42-40 (-0.3) | Last season | 45-37 (+0.6) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Trail Blazers
Injury report Magic
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data; early in the season they rely heavily on last season. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.