Houston Rockets vs Orlando Magic Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 09/04/2024, 04:50  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 09/04/2024 at 05:49 in NBA Predictions

The Orlando Magic will head to the Toyota Center to face the Houston Rockets in the NBA on Tuesday night. The hostas are 38-40 and 11th in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 46-32 and third in the Eastern Conference. 

The Orlando Magic have been performing decently as of late and remain contenders for a second-seed position, trailing the Bucks by just one win in the Eastern Conference standings. Their latest victory was a 113-98 triumph over the Bulls, with Pablo Banchero leading the scoring with 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Jalen Suggs contributed 19 points, five assists, and three rebounds. Despite being the NBA's 25th-ranked scoring team with an average of 110.6 points per game, only 2.7 points less than the 113.3 points allowed by the Rockets, their defensive prowess has been notable. The Magic allow just 108.3 points per game, ranking third in the league overall in defense. Notably, their defensive performance has been stronger in home games, where they allow only 105.5 points per game compared to 111.2 points per game in away games. However, Caleb Houstan will be sidelined for this matchup.

After an impressive 11-game winning streak, the Houston Rockets' playoff aspirations were dashed following a loss to the Warriors, marking the beginning of a five-game losing streak. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, ending with a score of 147-136. Dillon Brooks led the team with 29 points and two assists, while Fred VanVleet contributed 24 points and 12 assists. Despite being the 16th-ranked scoring team in the NBA with an average of 114.2 points per game, the Rockets have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 113.3 points per game throughout the season. However, their defensive performance has worsened in recent games, conceding an average of 127.4 points per game in their last five outings. The Rockets have four players listed as questionable, with Boban Marjanovic ruled out.