Short-handed Magic visit Suns, owners of NBA's worst defense

The Orlando Magic (2-5), missing Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, visit the Phoenix Suns (1-5) on Thursday night, with Orlando's turnover problem set against the NBA's worst defense in a game the market calls even.

Phoenix allows 122.5 points per 100 possessions, last in the league, and opponents shoot an effective 57.5% against it. That is the opening for an Orlando offense rated 105.5, 25th.

The Magic will look for it from deep, taking 46.9% of their shots from 3-point range, sixth in the league. The Suns are last in defensive rebounding, but Orlando ranks 27th on the offensive boards, so second chances come only if the Magic go after them.

Orlando's problem is the ball. The Magic turn it over on 15.4% of possessions, 28th, and Phoenix forces turnovers at the 10th-best rate. Collin Gillespie leads the Suns with 2.7 steals a game.

Devin Booker carries Phoenix with 24.7 points a game and makes 95.3% of his free throws.

Franz Wagner runs Orlando's offense with 7.6 assists and 4.1 turnovers a game. Wendell Carter Jr. pulls down 8.9 rebounds.

Banchero is out, with a return expected Sunday, November 22; he averaged 24.5 points in his two games. Suggs, the team's steals leader, is also out and is expected back Tuesday, November 10.

Noah Penda, Jonathan Isaac and Izaiyah Nelson are out as well, leaving five Magic players sidelined.

Phoenix is without center Mark Williams, who is out with a return expected Wednesday, February 3. Jordan Goodwin and Rasheer Fleming are also out.

Both teams arrive on losing streaks. The Suns have dropped four in a row, the last a 132-119 home loss to Portland. Orlando has lost two straight at home, including a 103-94 defeat to Washington.

Tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET in Phoenix. Sportsbook prices give the Suns a 51% chance to win, and our projection also has Phoenix at 51%.