Timberwolves vs. Magic Prediction, NBA Odds & Best Bets (10/23)

Fact checked at 10:03 AM ET, Oct 23, 2026

Odds as of Oct 23, 10:01 AM ET

Minnesota rebuilt its offense over the summer, trading Julius Randle (21.1 points a game last season) and Naz Reid and bringing in LaMelo Ball. The new version opened with a 131-106 win at Miami on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards scored 45 with nine threes, Chris Finch used only nine players before garbage time, and the two scorers behind Edwards and Ball, Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels, combined for 33 points on 14-of-24 shooting.

Orlando lost at home to Atlanta, 132-125, even with 35 points and 10 assists from Paolo Banchero. The Magic are again without Anthony Black (ankle), Jonathan Isaac (knee), Izaiyah Nelson (ankle) and Noah Penda (hamstring), the four who missed Wednesday, and Minnesota is without Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles). Both teams last played Wednesday, and neither plays Saturday.

Minnesota is a 1.5-point favorite, and the total has slid from 237.5 to 234.5. Tipoff is 7:00 PM ET Friday at Kia Center in Orlando.

We expect Minnesota to control this one, with Randle's old shots going to Dosunmu and McDaniels again. Both picks ride on that, so a flat night from the Minnesota offense would sink both.

Timberwolves vs. Magic Predictions

• Pick #1: Ayo Dosunmu Over 12.5 Points (-108)
• Pick #2: Jaden McDaniels Over 14.5 Points (-117)

PICK #1: Ayo Dosunmu Over 12.5 Points (-108)

Dosunmu is Minnesota's sixth man, and with Reid gone he is the second unit's main scorer. He played 29 minutes at Miami, about as many as Ball, and scored 16 of the bench's 31 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Only Edwards and Ball took more shots.

The longer record holds up. Last season he averaged 14.8 points over 69 games for Chicago and Minnesota and went over 12.5 in 43 of them, about 62%. After the February trade he put up 14.4 a game in 24 games with the Timberwolves, playing about 29 minutes a night and clearing this line 14 times, then averaged 15.6 over 10 playoff games. The -108 price only needs 51.9%.

His preseason is the soft spot: 10, 11, 10 and 5 points, all under the number, in 13 to 24 minutes a game. A blowout could also cost him. Minnesota led by as many as 30 on Wednesday, and bench players are the first to lose fourth-quarter minutes.

PICK #2: Jaden McDaniels Over 14.5 Points (-117)

McDaniels is the starting forward who stayed when Randle left. In the opener he scored 17 on 8-of-11 shooting with eight rebounds in 29 minutes, in a game Minnesota led by as many as 30. In the preseason he scored 22 in 24 minutes at New York and 16 in 21 against Indiana, though he also had 12 in 23 minutes against Detroit.

Last season he averaged 14.8 points alongside Randle and cleared 14.5 in 40 of 73 regular-season games, then averaged 16.3 over 12 playoff games. That was in a season Randle averaged 21.1, so McDaniels' share only has to grow a little to beat the 53.9% that -117 implies.

Fouls could get in the way. He picked up four at Miami, and a defensive forward in foul trouble sits. Edwards and Ball will take the most shots most nights, and Jonathan Kuminga started and took 10 on Wednesday, so a night with fewer than 10 attempts for McDaniels puts this in doubt.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.