Minnesota Timberwolves vs Orlando Magic Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Chart for Jan. 9 | 2024-25 NBA Season
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on Thursday. This is the first of two meetings between the two teams.
The Wolves' 19-17 record is good for eighth place in the Western Conference. Thus far, Minnesota has alternated between winning streaks and bad stretches. After dropping three consecutive games since New Year's Eve, the Wolves have pulled off back-to-back wins, including a 104-97 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic are comfortably placed at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference. They've won two of their last three games, and their most recent W came at the expense of the New York Knicks, whom they defeated 103-94 on Monday.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Orlando Magic: Injury report
Minnesota Timberwolves injury report
Aside from three players assigned to the G League, the only other player who'll be unavailable is point guard Rob Dillingham (ankle).
Orlando Magic injury report
In contrast, the Magic will miss key pieces. Franz Wagner (oblique), Moe Wagner (ACL), Jalen Suggs (back) and Gary Harris (hamstring) will sit out. Interestingly, All-Star forward Paolo Banchero is listed as questionable after a 33-game absence.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Orlando Magic: Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Chart
Minnesota Timberwolves
Orlando Magic
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Orlando Magic: Key matchups
Rudy Gobert vs Goga Bitadze
Both men hold the key to their respective teams' dominance on the boards. Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, averages 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season. Bitadze, who's had to step up in Banchero's absence, is having the best rebounding season of his career with 8.5 boards per game.
Anthony Edwards vs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Throughout his career, KCP has had his fair share of tough defensive assignments from the wing positions. On Thursday, he'll have his hands full with Edwards, the All-Star scoring machine who leads the Wolves with 25.8 points per outing.
Though the Magic can opt to double-team Edwards on certain occasions, Caldwell-Pope will gladly welcome the assignment to contain Ant-Man.