For most of Wednesday’s 116-110 win over the Houston Rockets, the Orlando Magic appeared like a workforce closing out a four-game highway journey.
They got here out missing depth on each ends of the ground at Toyota Center, permitting the Rockets to take an early 29-15 lead and trailing 64-54 at halftime after Houston scored a minimum of 31 within the first two quarters.
But after trailing by 77-62 early within the third, the Magic (12-21) discovered themselves defensively with the assistance of their 2-3 zone protection, holding the Rockets (9-22) to 33 factors over the past 20½ minutes to tug out their seventh victory of their final eight video games.
The Magic went 3-1 on the highway swing, with back-to-back wins over the Celtics (Friday and Sunday) earlier than narrowly falling in Atlanta Monday to finish their then-six-game win streak.
The victory gave the Magic their first profitable highway journey of a minimum of three video games since Dec. 26-29, 2020.
For practically 24 hours, it was unsure whether or not Franz Wagner would proceed his streak of consecutive video games performed.
Those worries had been put to relaxation forward of tipoff, with Wagner within the beginning lineup for the thirty third consecutive recreation after getting into the matchup listed as questionable due to a sprained proper ankle.
He led the Magic with 25 factors on 9-of-15 taking pictures from the sphere (4 of 8 on 3s).
Paolo Banchero had 23 factors (9-of-20 taking pictures) and 13 rebounds for his sixth double-double to go together with 3 assists and a pair of steals. He scored 14 within the first to maintain the Magic within the recreation regardless of their sluggish begin and made a layup to provide the Magic a 114-108 lead with 48 seconds remaining to assist seal the win.
Cole Anthony led the bench with 15 factors, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes and had a team-high plus-15 plus/minus, main the second unit after they gave the Magic their first lead, 96-95, early within the fourth.
Wednesday featured a matchup between two prime picks in June’s draft in Banchero (No. 1 decide) and Rockets ahead Jabari Smith Jr. (No. 3).
The West-worst Rockets are on a four-game shedding streak however have gone 7-10 since Nov. 16. Smith had picked up his play after a gradual begin, averaging 13.4 factors (42.3% taking pictures, 37.6% on 3s) within the earlier 16 video games getting into Wednesday.
He completed with 10 factors on 4-of-11 taking pictures and 5 rebounds.
“He’s changing his game in so many ways,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated of Smith pregame. “He’d are available as simply as a shooter. Obviously, he’s making pictures now however there are occasions he’s bringing the ball up the ground. Just making an attempt to maintain himself concerned within the offense in several methods. They put him on the block a few occasions. He’s evolving into greater than only a ‘space shooter.’ “
The Rockets had been led by Kevin Porter Jr.’s 31 factors, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals. Jalen Green added 21 factors and eight rebounds.
Mosley additionally addressed the standing of third-year ahead Chuma Okeke, who’ll be sidelined for a minimum of the subsequent month after having arthroscopic left knee surgical procedure.
Okeke underwent a chondroplasty — a process that entails shaving/smoothing broken cartilage.
The Magic stated in a press release that he’ll be reevaluated in 4 weeks. He hasn’t performed since leaving the Nov. 21 highway loss to the Indiana Pacers with knee soreness — his damage designation for the final month earlier than having surgical procedure.
“I do feel for Chum,” Mosley stated. “He’s going to do a great job of getting himself back to the court, doing all of the things that are asked of him to get back.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com