ORLANDO, Fla. –– A well-traveled adage defines the NBA as a make-or-miss league. The Orlando Magic didn't make enough shots Wednesday night to keep pace with the Houston Rockets — ultimately their undoing in a 116-108 home loss.
The third quarter said it all. The Magic made only seven of 21 field goal attempts as the Rockets methodically built a 16-point lead. With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Magic are 32-38 and currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, likely on a path to the play-in tournament.
The Rockets extended the NBA's longest active winning streak to eight games with this victory. After a statement victory at Cleveland over the weekend, Orlando has yet to win consecutive games without a week's rest between them since before Christmas (Dec. 21-23, 2024).
On Wednesday night, the game showcased a series of runs. The Magic started strong, making seven of their first 12 shots and forcing Houston to burn two timeouts within the opening seven minutes. However, the Rockets quickly adjusted with a 2-3 zone defense, scoring 16 of the final 20 points in the last five minutes to take a 28-23 lead by the quarter's end.
In the second quarter, the Magic converted Houston's turnovers into points, powering an 18-5 run that pushed them ahead 41-33. Yet, this lead was short-lived as Fred VanVleet hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cap off a Rockets 23-11 run, finishing the half 56-52 in favor of Houston.
Houston dominated the third quarter, outscoring Orlando 32-20, leaving the Magic to chase the game for the remainder. Orlando's offense made a late surge, cutting the deficit to six points twice in the game's final minute, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Leading the Magic was Paolo Banchero with 31 points, marking another stellar performance. He has reached 30+ points in 12 games this season. Other contributors included Franz Wagner with 20 points, Goga Bitadze generating 19 points and eight rebounds, Cory Joseph scoring 13 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope getting 10. Notably, Cole Anthony missed his fifth game in a row due to a left big toe strain.
On the opposing side, Jalen Green led the Rockets with 26 points, continuing his streak of scoring at least 20 points for five straight games. Houston had six players finishing with double-digit points, showcasing their depth.
The Rockets also dominated the boards, grabbing 46 rebounds in total and scoring 19 second-chance points, a critical factor in their victory. They capitalized on Orlando's struggles, converting 14 points off 12 Magic turnovers, and shooting an impressive 90.6% from the free-throw line, hitting 29 of 32 attempts.
For the Magic, the team's vulnerability this season has been evident, particularly in third quarters. They need to find a way to establish consistency if they wish to move up from their current position. Their next challenge comes swiftly as they head on a road trip to Washington, D.C., where they will face the Wizards on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET.
Orlando's playoff aspirations hinge on their ability to bounce back, and this loss against Houston serves as a reminder of the work needed ahead. The Magic remain optimistic but must capitalize on their remaining games for a shot at postseason play.
