The Houston Rockets pulled it out Monday night!
Despite my projection that they’d succumb to the Charlotte Hornets, both teams were shooting so bad, it became apparent that the Rockets just needed to score enough points to win the game.
And they did.
There will be a lot of games like this where they’re not pretty but the win is somehow able to be secured.
But the Rockets will head up to O-Town for a quick roadie to face the 16-12 Orlando Magic before their marquee Christmas Day match up against the San Antonio Spurs.
This Magic team has grown together as a bunch and they’re now playing stifling defense against their opponents which will certainly get them into the playoffs this year if they keep things going.
Scott Skiles, in his first season with the team as a coach, has got these guys motivated to play hard and it’s starting to show on the stat sheet and in the standings.
Skiles also spent five seasons as a player with the Magic (1989-94) so the surroundings are quite familiar for him. He was quite decent a player when he was in the NBA and still holds the NBA record for most assists recorded in one game (30), a record that’s been intact since Dec. 30, 1990 — nearly 25 years to the day.
So far, it seems he’s the right fit for that team and Rockets definitely don’t need to take them lightly or they’ll be chalking one in the loss column.
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So who’s leading the charge for the Magic?
Big manNikola Vucevicis the team’s leading scorer (16.5 PPG) and top-board getter (8.8 RPG).Elfrid Paytonleads in dimes (6.1 APG) and steals (1.60 SPG).Dewayne Dedmonis in charge of the shot-blocking (1.20 BPG).
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Let’s talk about what the Magic do well.
They’re quite stingy on defense.The Magic are ranked9thin defensive efficiency, allowing a mere99.4points per100possessions.
They’re quite decent at moving the ball around.The Magic are ranked12thin the league as far as assist ratio, with16.7percent of their possessions ending with an assist.
Injuries:
Sam Dekkerhadback surgeryand is expected to miss about a couple more months.
Elfrid Payton sustained a sore ankle during Monday’s match up against the New York Knicks and had to exit the game. He did not return and he is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game.Victor Oladipowill likely be his replacement in the starting lineup if he can’t go.
Sources: Jenny Dial Creech/Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel
Three Things to Watch:
- Dwight Howardvs. Nikola Vucevic
- Patrick Beverleyvs. Elfrid Payton?/Victor Oladipo
- Can the Rockets bust through the Magic’s defensive wall?
Prediction:
100-98in aRockets’win!
The Rockets hit the road to take on theMagicat theAmway Center.
Tip-off is scheduled for6 p.m. CST.
The game will be televised onROOT Sports Southwest/NBA TVand broadcast onSportsTalk 790 AM (KBME)andLa Ranchera 850 AM (KEYH) in Spanish.
Go Rockets!
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