Two NBA Cup semifinals games are coming to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas tonight, and this first semifinal will be between a pair of Eastern Conference teams that have already met three times this season.
The Orlando Magic vs. the Knicks will be the first of two NBA Cup semis at 5:30 p.m. ET tonight. The Magic lead the season series 2-1, but it won’t have its top scorer available tonight in Vegas.
Below, we'll break down our Knicks vs. Magic prediction, plus NBA picks for PrizePicks today, including on Knicks PG Jalen Brunson and Magic SG Desmond Bane to win real money if you're right.
Knicks vs. Magic Prediction, Spread, Over/Under for NBA Cup
The Knicks are 17-7, the fourth-best record in the NBA, led by their second best offensive rating (121.8) behind PG Jalen Brunson (28.3 PPG) and C Karl-Anthony Towns (22.1 PPG, 12.0 RPG).
After a slow start to the season the Magic (15-10) have been surging, winning eight of its last 11 games.
While the Magic are 2-1 vs. the Knicks this year, Orlando did drop its most recent game vs. the Knicks on Dec. 7 at Madison Square Garden, in a lower scoring affair, 106-100.
The Knicks come in as the healthier Magic SF Franz Wagner (ankle) and C Moritz Wagner (knee) have both been ruled out vs. the Knicks — two key pieces. Miles McBride (ankle) is out for the Knicks, which shouldn't have a massive impact.
The winner of this game will play in Tuesday's NBA Cup Final, set for 8:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.
Knicks vs. Magic Over/Under, Spread
The Knicks are 4.5-point favorites, returning a 1.49x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Magic are underdogs with a 2.5x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Knicks -4.5 (1.78x Payout)
- Over/Under: 226.5 (1.96 Payout on Over)
- Gamer Winner Payout: Magic 2.5x | Knicks 1.49x
Team Picks data is live as of publishing and is subject to change, via the PrizePicks app.
Knicks vs. Magic Prediction on Spread Tonight
Here are some stats to know to help you make your Knicks vs. Magic prediction today in the NBA Cup semifinal.
- The Knicks have covered the spread in eight of their previous 10 games.
- The Magic have covered in five of their previous 10 games.
- Orlando is 3-1 against the spread in its previous four meetings with New York.
- The Magic have gone 8-3 straight up and 7-4 against the spread in their last 11 games.
Knicks vs. Magic Picks for PrizePicks Today
Here are two of the top Knicks vs. Magic picks for PrizePicks for today's NBA Cup semifinal. Player projections via the PrizePicks real money NBA game.
Knicks PG Jalen Brunson vs. Magic Projection – 38.5 Pts+Asts+Rebs
- Brunson has scored at least 30 points in all three of his meetings with the Magic this season.
- The Knicks star spends 45.0% of his time on the court with the ball, per databallr. That;' a 99th-percentile figure.
- The Villanova product is averaging 45.4 Pts+Asts+Rebs in games McBride hasn’t appeared in this season.
- Note that Brunson looked to be dealing with an illness at Friday's media availability (above), but is not listed on the injury report and is expected to be a full-go.
Magic SG Desmond Bane vs. Knicks Projection – 25.5 Pts+Asts
- Bane is averaging 27.4 points + assists through three meetings with the Knicks this season.
- Over his last 10 games, Bane is averaging 22.1 points and 4.6 assists (26.7 total).
- The Magic sniper is posting 33.8 points per 100 possessions without Franz Wagner on the court this season, according to Add More Funds.
- His points per minute without Franz Wagner is 0.69, compared to 0.55 with Franz Wagner on the floor.
- With Wagner on the floor, Bane has a 23.6% usage rate, but that jumps to 29.7% without him on the floor.
- The TCU product leads Orlando in total assists with 113, and generates 2.4 rim assists per 100 possessions, per databallr. That’s an 87th-percentile figure.
Make Magic vs. Knicks Picks in NBA Cup on PrizePicks
The Magic have won two of their three meetings with the Knicks in 2025-26, but will enter Saturday’s NBA Cup Semifinal matchup against the without a key piece in Franz Wagner.
Jalen Brunson and Desmond Bane stand out as guards who could raise their usual levels of production with key teammates out, though Brunson appears to be fighting through an illness.
There are plenty of other options worth considering when making your NBA predictions on PrizePicks today. Just pick players, predict More or Less on at least two stat projections, and earn real-money rewards if you're right.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued NBA predictions, picks, and news all season long.
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