Houston Chronicle

Scouting report: at Orlando

- Jonathan Feigen

When/where: 6 p.m. today; Amway Center

TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM; 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 FM (Spanish).

So far: Rockets 16-8, Magic 11-13

Lately: The Rockets topped the Cavaliers on Wednesday, giving them five wins in their last seven games. The Magic dropped games to the Bucks and Lakers, the teams with the NBA’s best records, since putting together a four-game winning streak against the Warriors, the Wizards, the Suns and the Cavaliers. The wins against Washington and Cleveland were on the road.

Scouting the Rockets: The Rockets are 7-3 against Eastern Conference teams, including 4-2 on the road … The Rockets have won 11 of their past 14 games against the Magic, but lost last season’s game in Orlando … James Harden, who averaged 39 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the Magic last season, on Wednesday joined Rick Barry as the only players in NBA history to score at least 55 points with five or fewer free throws. He has scored at least 50 points against 15 franchises, two shy of the record shared by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Harden has four games with at least 50 points in 24 games. He and Russell Westbrook are the only active players in the NBA with four 50-point games in a season … Russell Westbrook has averaged 27 points on 58.2 percent shooting in the past three games after averaging 17.7 points on 29.4 percent shooting in the previous three games … Center Clint Capela has seven games with at least 20 rebounds, matching his total from his 295 games in his first five seasons in the NBA.

Scouting the Magic: The Magic are 8-5 at home, including 4-2 against Western Conference teams … The Magic rank 28th offensivel­y, but are the eighth-ranked team in the NBA defensivel­y. They are in the top 10 in fewest opponents fast-break points, secondchan­ce points and points off turnovers and rank second in blocked shots per game … Guard Evan Fournier’s 19.9 points per game is the best of his eight-year career. He is making a career-best 44.1 percent of his 3s … Forward Aaron Gordon is making 42.5 percent of his shots, the worst shooting percentage of his career … Forward Jonathan Isaac’s 2.8 blocked shots per game lead the league … Center Nikola Vucevic missed the Magic’s past 10 games with a sprained ankle, but returned to practice on Thursday and is considered close to making a return.

Injury report: Rockets — Center Tyson Chandler (illness) and guard Austin Rivers (illness) are doubtful. Guards Eric Gordon (right knee surgery), guard Gerald Green (left foot surgery) and center Nene (strained adductor) are out. Magic — Forward Al-Farouq Aminu (torn right meniscus) will not play. Center Nikola Vuc evic (right lateral ankle sprain) is doubtful. Guard Markelle Fultz (stomach virus) remains questionab­le for the game.

By the numbers: Nine — Consecutiv­e games in which the Rockets have scored at least 115 points, matching the franchise record.

Looking ahead: Rockets vs. Pistons, Saturday; Magic at Pelicans, Sunday.

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