The Rockets are hosting the Orlando Magic at the Toyota Center in Houston. The matchup is important for both teams. The Rockets must finish top six in the Western Conference to avoid the well-feared play-in. The Orlando Magic are doomed to be in the Eastern Conference play-in. Right now, it is about positioning for the Magic.
This season has something of a “season from hell” vibe to it as far as the Orlando Magic goes. The expectations were set high at the start of the season. The Magic got to the playoffs last season and lost to Cleveland in the first round. The team was ready to build on that with their two young stars in the shape of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Unfortunately, things started to go south before the fun even got off to a start. The reason is that a lot of injuries came knockin’ on Magic’s door.
Banchero and Franz Wagner got hurt early in the season, and both of them missed a bunch of games. The injuries did, of course, derail the Orlando Magic campaign this season. Franz and Paolo are back in the lineup, and both of them started the game versus the Milwaukee Bucks. The Magic had lost five straight before they defeated the Bucks 111-109. Banchero had 29 points and six rebounds. Franz Wagner scored 18 points and also had seven rebounds and five dimes. The point guard, Cole Anthony, had 22 points and nine dimes.
Orlando is currently at the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They have lost six out of their last eight games in the NBA. Orlando has won 30 and lost 35 games so far this season. The Magic’s road record is at 12-19 at this point in the season. Let’s get back to the current injuries for the Magic. Franz and Paolo might be back in the lineup, but Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner are out for the season.
Jamal Mosley, head coach of the Orlando Magic, has had to deal with a lot of adversity during the season. No matter what, they will be in the play-in at least.
The Rockets are fighting with all they got to be one of the top six teams in the very competitive Western Conference. This young Houston team got off to an excellent start to the season but has fallen off lately. They sit at the 5th position with a record of 39 wins and 25 losses. The Rockets have won five out of their last ten games.
The Houston Rockets are on a two-game winning streak at the moment. They have taken care of the New Orleans Pelicans, which they have faced in two straight games. The first one was played in New Orleans and ended 109-97. The second one took place in Texas, and the Rockets won that one 146-117. Dillon Brooks had 27 points and made seven out of eleven shots from behind the arc. Aaron Holiday had 20 points off the bench for the Rockets.
The second-year player Amen Thompson is a future All-Star in the NBA. Amen has been the most valuable player for the Houston Rockets this season. The head coach, Ime Udoka, can always count on Thompson to be a contributor on both ends of the floor. The guy is as clutch as they can get. Amen will miss the game versus the Magic due to a left ankle sprain.
The rookie Reed Shepherd is also out, while the veteran point guard, Fred VanVleet, is questionable. The power forward Jabari Smith Jr. is back in the lineup after an injury absence.
Recently, coach Udoka has played both his big men, Steven Adams and Alperen Şengün, at the same time on the floor. We will likely see more of that in the upcoming playoffs.
