NBA: Magic, Rockets Battle at the (Almost) Bottom
Orlando Magic guard Chasson Randle and Houston Rockets forward Kelly Olynyk battle for the ball at Amway Center Sunday, April 18, 2021. Photo: Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – With Orlando Magic (18-38) being 14th in the Eastern Conference and the Houston Rockets (14-42) at 15th in the west, tonight was a battle for the bottom at Amway Center Sunday night.
In a breath of fresh air, Mo Bamba returned to home court for Orlando Sunday.
The First Half
Tate and Brooks each put up six points for Houston in the first quarter while Olynyk put up seven. For Orlando, Harris led with eight points while Bamba netted seven and Randle put up five.
The two teams tied four times in the first quarter, including at its end with 28 points.
Olynyk and Porter, Jr. did most of the socring in the second quarter, increasing their total points on the night to 13 and 15 points, respectively. Wood contributed a total of nine points by halftime.
Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter, Jr., Chasson Randle, Dwayne Bacon and Cole Anthony actively scored for Orlando in the second quarter. Okeke and Carter, Jr. each totaled nine points by halftime while Randle totaled eight before getting subbed out. Bacon and Anthony improved on their free throws. Bacon went to the line twice for two free throws and scored all four. Anthony went to the line twice: once for a technical free throw and later for two free throws, and made all three.
Orlando led at halftime, 59-53.
The Second Half
Porter, Jr., Olynyk, and Wood turned the game around in Houston’s favor, netting 22, 20, and 18 points on the game respectively.
For the Magic, Wendell Carter, Jr., Okeke, and Harris kept Orlando on the board in scoring while Hampton added free throw points. Carter, Jr. and Okeke each netted 11 points by the end of the third and Harris netted ten. Hampton successfully landed three free throws.
The Rockets managed to pull away from the Magic by the end of the third, 85-77.
In the end, Houston dominated in points in the paint (50 to Orlando’s 48) and second chance points (14 to Orlando’s eight). While Orlando led in assists and steals (28 to Houston’s 26 and 10 to Houston’s seven respectively) as well as free throw percentage (89.5 percent to Houston’s 70 percent), Houston overpowered where it counts: 43 to 36 on rebounds, 51 percent to 45 percent on field goals, and 47 percent to 34 percent on three-pointers.
Christian Wood had a double-double on the night, leading Houston with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Bacon led the Magic in scoring with 22 points on the night, while Anthony got nine assists and two blocks.
The game ultimately slipped away from the Magic, ending with a 114-110 final score.