The Orlando Magic (11-21) will travel to face the Houston Rockets (9-21) Wednesday night for a game between two of the youngest teams in the NBA. The Rockets’ average age at the start of the season was 23.58, the second lowest, while the Magic were 23.94, fourth.
In their last game Monday, the Magic saw a six-game win streak end, losing to the Atlanta Hawks 126-125 on last-second free throws. The Rockets had their losing streak extended to three games, falling to the San Antonio Spurs 124-105 at home.
Let’s check the latest NBA odds, stats, injury reports, and NBA lines for Magic vs Rockets. We’ve plenty of NBA betting odds for you to consider.
Magic Youthful Ignorance
The Magic are not hiding anything. This is a young team in the middle of a rebuild that is more interested in ending with better lottery odds than pushing for a play-in spot. However, at the same time, they are packed with talented players getting their first real minutes in the NBA and playing with freedom and intensity.
That is how you end up with one of the worst teams in the NBA, winning six straight, beating the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors twice during that run. It sure helps when your first overall pick in the draft is playing at Paolo Banchero’s current level. He is averaging 22.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game over the last seven.
While the Wagner brothers, Franz, averaging 20.9 points through the stretch, and Moritz, 15.1 points and seven rebounds, have played a big part in the success, the guard play has had the most significant impact. That has been the biggest issue with the Magic, mainly due to health, but Markelle Fultz has solidified the position. While he hasn’t been a great scorer, his 5.7 assists over the last seven games have been impactful.
Rockets Searching for Consistency
With such a young roster, it is understandable that this team would struggle with consistency. However, there has been a reason for optimism during the last five games. Over that stretch, they have gone 2-3, beating the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks.
The defense has improved, with a 108.4 defensive rating, seventh best in the NBA, during the five games. However, it has not been like that all season, with the third-worst defensive rating and then reverting to usual, allowing 124 points to the Spurs in the last game.
The offense might be the biggest issue, with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. struggling to find consistent efficacy. They are shooting 41% from the field while leading the Rockets in points and shot attempts per game. Games are often decided strictly on if they can make their shots that night, which often is not. They played well in the wins over the Suns and Bucks, combining for 46 points, with Green at 50% from the field. During this recent three-game losing streak, Green is shooting 33% from the field and 13% from three, while Porter is at 44% and 8%.
Magic vs Rockets Game Injuries
Magic vs Rockets Head-to-Head
The Rockets beat the Magic in Orlando this season, winning 134-127 on Nov. 7. Green had his shot going that night, scoring 30 points, and making five threes, while Banchero had 30 of his own.
Magic vs Rockets Game Information
- Game: Magic (11-21) vs Rockets (9-21)
- Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- Day/Time: Wednesday, December 21, 8:00 p.m. EST
- Magic vs Rockets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Magic vs Rockets Betting Lines
Magic vs Rockets Picks & Prediction
With the teams being young and inconstant, it makes this a challenging game to pick a winner. On the other hand, the Magic have been playing well over the last seven games, and even though they lost to the Hawks, it was close. The Rockets have not displayed that, as their key offensive players are in the middle of a shooting slump.
On top of that, the Magic have covered the spread in their last eight games.
The Orlando Magic are listed at -120 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Magic, you have a chance to win $83. The Houston Rockets are +100, offering a chance to win $100 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Orlando Magic a 54.55% chance to win, with the Houston Rockets at 50.00%.
Magic vs Rockets Trends
Magic vs Rockets Edge
Magic vs Rockets Results
Magic vs Rockets Game Summary
