The Orlando Magic faced the Houston Rockets in their first game following the All-Star break. Both squads are young and in the process of rebuilding. These are the two teams with the worst records in the league. It’s also worth noting that both teams are currently at the bottom of their respective divisions. For either club, this was a great opportunity to get back on track for the rest of the season.
The first three-quarters of the game were extremely close, with both teams trading the lead. The Rockets got off to a hot start and took a 33-27 lead into the second quarter. The Magic responded with a big second quarter of their own, outscoring the Rockets 31-18 in the quarter. The Rockets led by as many as six points in the first quarter, but the Magic took a six-point lead into halftime. In the third quarter, the Rockets briefly reclaimed the lead, only to lose it again in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was tense, but the Magic were able to pull away for a 119-111 victory.
Wins like this one prove that the Magic are competitive and capable of winning games down the stretch. A lot of the young players on the Orlando Magic are still figuring out how to win games. They are, nevertheless, making strides and holding out hope. They have a number of talented players. Chuma Okeke led the Magic with 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, while Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 24 points and 12 rebounds to round out the scoring for Orlando.
Jalen Green scored 23 points and grabbed five rebounds for Houston. In addition to his 21 points, Christian Wood also grabbed 11 rebounds. Houston struggled from the free throwline making only 9 out of 20 (45%). Both teams strugggled from behind the arc with the Magic shooting 36% (13 out of 36) and the Rockets shooting 29% (14 out of 47).
Orlando will face the Indiana Pacers in back-to-back home games next. Markelle Fultz, the team’s starting point guard, will also be back. On January 6, 2021, Fultz sustained a left knee injury that has kept him out of action for the entire season. With the return of Fultz, Orlando has a chance to finish the season on a high note.
