Tonight, the Orlando Magic (37-40) face off against the Washington Wizards (17-59) at Capital One Arena. With a solid record of 17-21 on the road, the Magic are favored heavily, especially after defeating the Wizards by at least 15 points in all three prior matchups this season. Washington recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory against Sacramento but has struggled overall, particularly at home with a 1-4 record in their last five games.

The Magic have been in good form, winning five of their last seven games. As the two teams prepare for tip-off, the latest odds favor Orlando with a spread of -13.5. NBC Sports’ model predicts the Magic will cover, highlighting their advantageous position against a Wizards team that has failed to cover the spread in four of their last five divisional matchups.

Tanking is taking center stage in the 2024-25 NBA season, with teams like the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors engaging in strategic loss efforts to improve their draft lottery odds. The Jazz, having been fined for their blatant player participation violations, currently hold the worst record. Meanwhile, the Wizards are shifting focus towards player development and have abandoned their earlier tanking strategy, allowing Utah to seize the top position in the race for the No. 1 pick.

With the regular season drawing to a close, teams in the bottom tier are eyeing the lottery with bated breath. The Jazz, Wizards, and Hornets each sit with identical 14% odds, while the 76ers are doing everything to protect their fifth position and maintain a 64% chance of keeping their pick. The stakes are high as injuries and season performances shape the landscape for potential lottery winners.

The Washington Wizards are prioritizing development, giving ample playing time to their younger roster, which has started to yield results for fantasy managers. Recently, Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson both scored 19 points against the Sacramento Kings, showcasing their scoring capabilities. Carrington has been particularly impressive, nearly breaking into the top 75 fantasy players over the last week, while Tristan Vukcevic provided a solid contribution with 17 points and 8 rebounds. As the Wizards continue to rely on youth, players like Justin Champagnie also become relevant in fantasy discussions.

Meanwhile, Tari Eason took advantage of Fred VanVleet's absence for the Houston Rockets, putting up a notable line in a blowout win. Isaiah Collier of the Utah Jazz also had a standout game despite a loss, demonstrating his potential as he maintains a starting role. Jose Alvarado's value has risen with CJ McCollum sidelined, while Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson also provided solid numbers for their teams. As the season draws to a close, these players are shaping up to be key contributors for fantasy teams in need of late-season boosts.

Jordan Poole led the Washington Wizards to a narrow 116-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings, scoring 23 points and helping the team snap a three-game losing streak. The Wizards, tied for the fewest wins in the NBA, had Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson each contribute 19 points, with additional support from Tristan Vukcevic and Anthony Gill.

For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan was a standout, scoring 20 of his 29 points in a valiant fourth-quarter effort, but it was not enough to overcome a 14-point deficit. Despite their late-game push, including a 34-25 scoring run in the fourth, the Kings fell short, further jeopardizing their position in the play-in tournament.