Timberwolves vs. Magic Prediction and Odds for January 9: Paolo Banchero Set to Return

The Minnesota Timberwolves (19-17) are set to take on the Orlando Magic (22-16) in Florida on Thursday evening.

The Wolves are yet to recapture the form they produced last year, which saw them finish third in the Western Conference regular-season standings and go on a run to the Western Conference Finals. They won back-to-back games but are still 9-10 on the road.

The Magic are fourth in the Eastern Conference despite suffering a multitude of injuries. They won three of their last five games and earned an impressive road win against the New York Knicks their last time out.

Here, we will analyze the matchup and share our best Timberwolves vs. Magic betting picks.

Timberwolves vs. Magic Betting Odds for Thursday, January 9

The Timberwolves are 14-21-2 (40 percent) against the spread, 11-19 (36.7 percent) ATS as a favorite, and 10-9 (52.6 percent) ATS on the road.

The Magic are 20-17-1 (54.1 percent) ATS, 5-9-1 (35.7 percent) ATS as an underdog, and 11-6-1 (64.7 percent) ATS at home.

Odds for the Timberwolves vs. Magic game are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Head over to BetMGM to Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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Timberwolves vs. Magic Prediction

Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

The Timberwolves have a variety of issues to deal with to become the team they were just one season ago.

Their first task is to alleviate the offensive burden piled onto the shoulders of Anthony Edwards who, admittedly, could be doing better to handle the situation. A frustrated Edwards recently said that he’s being double-teamed on nearly every possession and does not enjoy having to pass the ball every time he starts to drive downhill.

The amount of help defense Edwards is receiving on his rim runs speaks to why his three-point volume exploded. Minnesota as a team has also been hot from behind the arc recently, climbing up to fifth in the league in three-point percentage (37.8). If they can sustain this level, they will force defenses to play them honestly and open up more space for their star guard.

Another issue plaguing the team is their defensive effort deep into games. They are seventh in overall defensive rating, yet they’re just 17th in clutch defensive rating. That speaks to their communication breakdowns and the lack of mental focus of their regular players, namely Julius Randle. 

The Wolves are also below league-average in rebound rate and assist-to-turnover ratio, which means they usually don’t create and exploit margins within the game. 

All that said, the Wolves are not a bad team. Their +1.2 net rating is 12th in the league, and they’ve beaten several top teams. 

They would love to get more out of their bench, which is 11th in net rating despite being loaded with talented players such as reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and others.

Referring back to Edwards, the 23-year-old averaged 34.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 52.1 percent three-point shooting in 2025.  He’ll need to produce a strong game to give his squad the best chance possible against a resilient Magic bunch.

Orlando Magic Preview

If the phrase “You should’ve killed me when you had the chance” ever applied to a basketball team, it would be the 2024-25 Orlando Magic.

The central Floridians survived injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, and others, and only trail the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Orlando also isn’t simply clinging onto their position thanks to a hot start. They recently beat the Knicks and Celtics without their top guys and were only six points away from beating the Oklahoma City Thunder as well.

The Magic do their dirt on the defensive end, ranking second in defensive rating. They’re all the way down at 27th in offensive rating, but they still rank 10th in net rating (+2.3). Defense is also largely based on effort, and their offense should improve once Banchero and company rejoin the fold. 

Speaking of Banchero, the first-overall pick of three years ago is expected to return from a torn oblique either Thursday or Friday, though it’s unclear in which game he will make his return. He only played in five games this season, but he averaged 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on 49.5 percent shooting. 

The Magic are the worst three-point shooting team in the league and are only average in three-point defense, which flies in the face of their stellar defensive metrics. That means that teams that can dominate from beyond the arc will give themselves a clear leg-up in the matchup. 

Orlando is also fourth in points off turnovers and allowed the fewest rebounds per game to their opponents, which has served to aid their struggling offense.

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Timberwolves vs. Magic Betting Pick

• Timberwolves vs. Magic pick: Timberwolves -4.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Betting on the Timberwolves on a night-to-night basis can be a scary prospect due to their deficiencies and general inconsistency. Meanwhile, Orlando has been incredibly impressive and profitable against the spread.

All that said, we expect a reversal in fortune. The return of Banchero could actually be a short-term negative due to the rust he will have incurred during his time off, and the absence of both Wagners, Suggs, and Harris means that the Magic don’t have many other players capable of scoring.

Minnesota has an even net rating on the road and has a bit of momentum after back-to-back wins. They are also ticking up in three-point shooting, which has proven to be the area of weakness in Orlando’s defense.

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How to Watch Timberwolves vs. Magic on 1/9/25

• When: Thursday, January 9 @ 7:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Kia Center, Orlando, FL

• TV: NBA TV

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