Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 12/21/2022

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Venue:  Toyota Center, Houston, TX 

Where to Watch:  BSFL

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Magic -2, Rockets +2; Over/Under:  223.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Magic -2, Rockets +2; Over/Under:  223.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Magic -2, Rockets +2; Over/Under:  223.5 points

 

Orlando Magic:  11-21 (4th place, Southeast Division)

Houston Rockets:  9-21 (5th place, Southwest Division)

 

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Orlando Magic:  6-4 last 10

Houston Rockets:  4-6 last 10

 

The Magic are coming into this game with an 11-21 record overall and they are 3-12 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off of a loss against the Atlanta Hawks in their last game. Markelle Fultz led the team in points in that game with 24 while Franz Wagner was next on the team with 19 points. Franz Wagner led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Moritz Wagner led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 47.4% from the field, 35.3% from 3-point range, and 92% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 109.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 113.3 PPG against them. The Magic have an ATS record of 17-14-1 this season and their O/U record is 15-15-2.

 

 

 

The Rockets are coming into this game with a 9-21 record overall and they are 6-8 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game losing streak with losses coming against the Miami Heat, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the San Antonio Spurs in their last game. Alperen Şengün led the team in points in that game with 22 while Kevin Porter Jr. was next on the team with 15 points. Daishen Nix led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Jabari Smith Jr. led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 42.6% from the field, 20.8% from 3-point range, and 64.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 109.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 115.4 PPG against them. The Rockets have an ATS record of 14-14-2 this season and their O/U record is 15-15.

The current betting odds have the Rockets listed as a 2 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rockets have been a terrible team all season just like they were last year as they still sit near the bottom of the NBA with one of the worst records, but they have not been nearly as bad at home with a 6-8 home record and 6 of their 9 wins this season have come at home now. They have lost 3 games in a row now but they were playing very well a week ago and they have still been playing well in their home games lately. The Magic just won 2 games in a row, right before their loss to the Hawks, against the Celtics who are one of the best teams in the NBA right now but the Magic are still one of the worst teams in the league with their record and they are going to be due for a few let downs here after those 2 big wins. The Magic have also been terrible on the road this season with a 3-12 record on the road, 2 of those 3 wins coming in those games against the Celtics. The Rockets have been a much better team at home this year while the Magic have been terrible on the road and this is a very bad spot for them after 2 big wins like what they had against the Celtics. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rockets to cover the spread in this game.

 

Magic Rockets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Wednesday, December 21, 2022 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Rockets 111 Magic 103.

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Orlando Magic: 12-6 ATS revenging a loss where the opponent scored 110 or more points. 12-7 UNDER as a favorite. 17-10 UNDER in a road game where the total is 220 to 229.5.

Houston Rockets: 32-56 ATS in home games. 6-16 ATS off a loss against a division rival. 12-7 UNDER at home when the line is +3 to -3.

 

 

Orlando Magic:  C. Okeke (PF) Late Jan - Knee. G. Harris (SG) Late Dec - Hamstring. J. Isaac (PF) Out indefinitely - Knee. J. Suggs (SG) Late Dec - Ankle. W. Carter Jr. (C) Late Dec - Foot.

Houston Rockets:  G. Mathews (SG) Ques Wed - Illness. J. Tate (SF) Late Dec - Ankle.

 

 

 

“The results do matter, but the process is way more, so I think we’re a little encouraged with that fourth quarter, with the fight that we showed, and that’s kind of the mentality we need to have. If you’re a good team, you come back from losses, too, and you keep fighting no matter what happens, so I think that’s what the mood is." - Moritz Wagner after their loss against the Hawks in their game on Monday.

 

 

“We got down on ourselves. We were missing shots and as a result we let go of the rope a little bit tonight and that was disappointing.” - Stephen Silas after his team’s loss against the Spurs in their game on Monday.

 

 

 

PG Markelle Fultz

SG Franz Wagner

SF Paolo Banchero

PF Bol Bol

C Moritz Wagner

 

PG Kevin Porter Jr.

SG Jalen Green

SF Eric Gordon

PF Jabari Smith Jr. 

C Alperen Sengun

 

 

PPG: P. Banchero (21.8)

APG: J. Suggs (5.4)

Reb/G: W. Carter Jr. (9.1)

 

PPG: J. Green (21.3)

APG: K. Porter Jr. (5.6)

Reb/G: A. Sengun (8.6)

 

Coaches:

Orlando Magic: Jamahl Mosley (2nd season)

Houston Rockets: Stephen Silas (3rd season)