76ers vs Magic Picks, Prediction Today | Wednesday, Dec. 27

Here's everything you need to know about 76ers vs. Magic on Wednesday, Dec. 27 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.

The Orlando Magic head home to take on the Philadelphia 76ers, who are continuing their Florida road trip after dropping a Christmas day game to the Miami Heat. Can the Magic take care of business on a back-to-back or will the 76ers bounce back?

Let's get to our 76ers vs. Magic prediction and pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers have already ruled out Joel Embiid (ankle) and Nicolas Batum (hamstring) for this game. Embiid has been playing at an MVP level this season and the 76ers are 6.5 points better in the minutes he's been on the court, per Cleaning the Glass. However, when he's missed games, Philadelphia is 0-4 and has lost each game by an average of 8.75 points. This matchup against the Magic will be a tough test.

Philadelphia has been excellent with Tyrese Maxey on the floor and is +8.7 in the Maxey minutes without Embiid, per Cleaning the Glass. The team's offense still hums and the defense is extremely switchable with Paul Reed at center.

The difficulty is when Maxey isn't on the floor because the absence of both Embiid and Maxey is compounded. Coach Nick Nurse has actively avoided those minutes as they account for fewer than 7% of all possessions for the 76ers, and for good reason. Philadelphia is -3.2 points per 100 possessions in those minutes as both the offense and defense struggle.

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This will mark the second game in as many days for the Magic and they will be traveling home from Washington D.C. They may return Markelle Fultz (knee), who has been practicing with the team, and Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), who sat out against the Wizards on Tuesday night. Isaac didn't carry any injury designation heading into that game, so it's likely that it was a load management/injury maintenance-related decision. I'd expect Isaac to play and Fultz to potentially play. Wendell Carter Jr. still seems to be having his minutes limited after returning from injury, so with the back-to-back, I'd expect that to continue.

The Magic have been one of the league's most improved teams. They are ninth in Net Rating (+2.8) with an elite defense (110.8 Defensive Rating – 3rd Best), per Basketball Reference and have done so despite being average in eFG% allowed. While they have been a bit vulnerable from 3-point range, they've been excellent defending the rim. The key to their defense is that they allow the sixth-fewest second-chance points per game (13.0) and dominate in transition, allowing just 111.2 points per 100 possessions, the fourth-best mark in the league, per Cleaning the Glass.

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This is a matchup between two teams toward the top of the Eastern Conference, but without Embiid, this matchup is exponentially more difficult for the 76ers. Maxey has been excellent this season, but the talent drop-off when both are off the floor is too significant.

Even though the Magic will be at a rest disadvantage, they are extremely well-rounded and their depth will shine through. Orlando is 8-2 ATS as a favorite this season, while Philadelphia is just 3-4 as a 'dog.

Pick: Magic -2.5