The Portland Trail Blazers, winners of two straight, aim to continue their momentum and extend the recent slump of the Orlando Magic when the two teams meet on Thursday.

Portland Trail Blazers
Recent Performance: Portland enters Orlando for the second of a three-game Eastern Conference road trip. The Trail Blazers opened with a 116-107 win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, where Deandre Ayton led the charge with 22 points and 15 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Ayton’s previous double-double included 15 points and 13 boards in a 113-102 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, which snapped Portland’s five-game losing streak.
Key Players:
- Deandre Ayton: Ayton has been instrumental in Portland’s recent victories, providing strong performances both offensively and defensively.
- Anfernee Simons: Simons, Portland’s season-long leading scorer at 18.2 points per game, will look to build on his bounce-back performance against Miami, where he scored 24 points.
Orlando Magic
Team Overview: The Magic are grappling with a four-game losing streak and have lost six of their last seven games. Injuries have severely impacted their offense, most notably the absence of 24.4 points-per-game scorer Franz Wagner due to an oblique injury since early December.
Recent Performance: Orlando’s offensive struggles were evident in their 109-93 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, marking the third time in the current losing streak that they scored fewer than 100 points. The Magic are the NBA’s lowest-scoring team, averaging just 103.9 points per game. Without Wagner and with an eight-man rotation, Orlando managed only 43 points in the second half against Toronto.
Injury Report:
- Franz Wagner: Out with an oblique injury, potential return by early February.
- Jalen Suggs: Missed the last nine games due to a back injury.
- Gary Harris: Missed the last 10 games due to a hamstring injury.
- Goga Bitadze: Missed the last four games due to a concussion.
- Moritz Wagner: Out for the season with a left knee injury.
Key Player:
- Paolo Banchero: Since returning to the lineup on January 10, Banchero has been a bright spot, averaging 25.3 points in 11 games. The 2022-23 Rookie of the Year and 2023-24 All-Star has scored at least 20 points in five of his six games since returning, including a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double against Toronto.
Matchup Outlook:
Despite their recent struggles, Orlando aims to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. A win against Portland, which is 13 games below .500, would help the Magic maintain their position. The Magic have won four of the past five meetings between the two teams.
Portland, on the other hand, is seeking to win three consecutive games for the second time this season. Their ability to exploit Orlando’s injury-depleted roster and maintain their recent form will be key to their success.