Orlando Magic vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 12/18/2025

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Thursday, December 18, 2025

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  FDSFL, ALT, KTVD, KUSA

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Magic +7.5, Nuggets -7.5; Over/Under:  235.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Magic +7.5, Nuggets -7.5; Over/Under:  235.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Magic +7.5, Nuggets -7.5; Over/Under:  235.5 points

Orlando Magic:  15-11 (1st place, Southeast Division)

Denver Nuggets:  19-6 (2nd place, Northwest Division)

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Orlando Magic:  6-4 last 10

Denver Nuggets:  7-3 last 10

The Magic are entering this game with a 15-11 record overall this season and they are 5-6 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the New York Knicks. Jalen Suggs led the team in points in that game with 26 while Paolo Banchero was next on the team with 25 points. Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs each led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black each led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 46.4% from the field, 31% from 3-point range, and 68% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 114.1 PPG against them. The Magic have an ATS record of 12-14 this season and their O/U record is 14-12.

The Nuggets are entering this game with a 19-6 record overall this season and they are 7-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 5 game winning streak with wins coming against the Indiana Pacers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, the Sacramento Kings, and the Houston Rockets. Nikola Jokić led the team in points in that game with 39 while Jamal Murray was next on the team with 35 points. Nikola Jokić led the team in assists in that game with 10 while Nikola Jokić led the team in rebounds with 15. They were 50.6% from the field, 44.1% from 3-point range, and 81.8% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 125.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.2 PPG against them. The Nuggets have an ATS record of 15-10 this season and their O/U record is 17-8.

The current betting odds have the Nuggets listed as a 7.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Nuggets have looked great in their games this season with their 19-6 record overall which has them right near the top of the West with one of the best records in the NBA. They have also looked good on their home court this year with their 7-4 home record. Meanwhile, the Magic have looked good in their games this season with their 15-11 record overall which has them in the top half of the East. They haven't been a great road team though with their 5-6 road record this season. The Magic have looked good lately as they are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but they have definitely cooled off from the hot run they were on. Now they are off a loss to the Knicks in their last one and that loss was in the NBA Cup Semi-Finals so their motivation could be in question here after losing a meaningful game like that. The Nuggets are off a win over the Rockets in their last one and that was a big win at home against another playoff contender who has looked great this season. The Nuggets have also been rolling in their games lately, going 7-3 in their last 10, and they have a ton of momentum on their side with 5 wins in a row now. The Magic are in a bad situation here, coming off that NBA Cup loss and now going on the road where they haven't looked as good this season. The Nuggets can take advantage of that so look for the Nuggets to continue rolling on their home court. The best way to place a bet here is on the Nuggets to cover the spread in this game. 

Magic Nuggets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Thursday, December 18, 2025 (9:00 pm ET start time) is Nuggets 127 Magic 114.

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Orlando Magic: 4-8 ATS when playing with 3 or more days rest. 5-16 1H ATS against Northwest division opponents. 9-21 1H ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%). 15-6 UNDER against Northwest division opponents.

Denver Nuggets: 4-1 ATS off an upset win as a home underdog. 7-3 ATS at home against Southeast division opponents. 12-6 ATS at home after a win by 6 points or less. 34-25 UNDER when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%).

Orlando Magic:  J. Suggs (PG) Out - Hip. C. Castleton (C) Day To Day - Thumb. M. Wagner (C) Out - Knee. F. Wagner (SF) Out - Leg.

Denver Nuggets:  A. Gordon (PF) Out - Hamstring. C. Braun (SG) Out - Ankle.

“We gave up three 30-point quarters and that’s not our brand of basketball… we’ve got to work on sitting down and guarding early.” - Jamahl Mosley after his team’s loss against the Knicks in the NBA Cup Semi-Finals on Saturday.

"I mean, the NBA is in such a good place right now. The skill set in some of these guys, it's outrageous. The way they can shoot it, pass it, handle it, [Alperen] Sengun, and Nikola [Jokic], both, you know, isolating up the nail... Both these games we played [vs. the Rockets], I would, you know, I'd pay to watch this." - David Adelman after his team’s win against the Rockets in their game on Monday.

PG Jalen Suggs

SG Desmond Bane

SF Tristan da Silva

PF Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

PG Jamal Murray

SG Cameron Johnson

SF Spencer Jones

PF Peyton Watson 

C Nikola Jokic

PPG: Franz Wagner (22.7)

APG: Jalen Suggs (4.8)

Reb/G: Paolo Banchero (7.9)

PPG: Nikola Jokic (29.8)

APG: Nikola Jokic (10.8)

Reb/G: Nikola Jokic (12.4)

Coaches:

Orlando Magic: Jamahl Mosley (5th season)

Denver Nuggets: David Adelman (2nd season)