Tuesday NBA Cup Best Bets: Picks for Heat vs. Magic and Knicks vs. Raptors

It is a relatively quiet evening for the NBA. Just two games are on the board Tuesday with the Miami Heat facing the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks taking on the Toronto Raptors.

Let’s take a deeper dive into these matchups and find a holiday bargain or two.

Even though there are only a couple of games, both offer hundreds of available markets. These just so happen to be our favorites.

Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic

Orlando ML (-105 BetMGM)

Losing Franz Wagner will hurt, but the Magic still have strong playmakers in Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero — both of whom had off nights in their last meeting with Miami. Getting Tyler Herro back is big for the Heat, and Orlando has already beaten Miami twice this season, though both games were close.

But it’s still hard to understand why the line swung so drastically in Miami’s favor (from +4.5 to -2.5). At BetMGM, it has settled at Miami -1.5.

Losing Wagner matters, but Bane and Banchero can pick up the slack. Miami plays faster and scores more, but Orlando is defending at a higher level and playing at home. That’s enough for me to ride with the Magic to win a third straight over the Heat.

Desmond Bane —

Bane is averaging 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this season. In the season opener vs. Miami, he posted 23/4/3. He’s gone under this mark in his last three games and in five of his last seven. While he may get additional touches with Wagner out, I expect more of the burden to fall on Banchero instead.

New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors

Knicks -4.5 (-110 FanDuel)

Toronto has been a pleasant surprise early on, but after losing five of their last six, they are starting to resemble the team most expected this season — especially with RJ Barrett sidelined.

The Knicks, meanwhile, are rolling. They’ve won three straight and seven of their last eight. They have a top-five offense and defense and comfortably beat Toronto in their Nov. 30 meeting, 116–94.

New York’s road struggles (3–6) could keep this closer than it should be, but the Knicks are simply the better team and should cover.

Jalen Brunson —

Brunson is capable of erupting from deep — he hit six of nine vs. Utah last Friday — but he’s made just one three in four of his last five games. That includes a 1-for-6 showing against Toronto on Nov. 30. The Raptors are holding teams to 33.3% from beyond the arc, giving this under solid value.