The Houston Rockets
Magic show fight after dismal 1st half stretch before Rockets pull away
lift off over the Orlando Magic, 128-104, despite Orlando’s early lead in the away game.
HOUSTON — The Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets played on the same regulationsized court and followed identical rules Tuesday night. But the Magic and Rockets played entirely different styles of games from each other.
The Rockets spread opposing defenses out and surround one of the sport’s best playmakers with outstanding shooters. They love to launch 3-pointers with a frequency the NBA has never seen before.
The Magic, on the other hand, seem mired in the past. They lack outside shooting, especially with backup swingman Jodie Meeks injured, and their roster just cannot match the Rockets 3-pointer for 3-pointer.
Undone by the Rockets’ efficient long-range shooting and by an atrocious stretch bridging the first and second quarters, the Magic lost 128-104 at the Toyota Center.
“They always seemed to make a big shot or something to make sure that we don’t get all the way back in the game,” Orlando center Nikola Vucevic said.
The loss may have been costly for the Magic. Forward Aaron Gordon sat out the entire second half because of a sore right foot — not the same foot that required surgery during his rookie season two years ago.
In the Magic’s postgame locker room, Gordon wore a walking boot over his right foot. Gordon
said he did not receive Xrays, and he and team officials said he would be evaluated after the team returns to Orlando.
Gordon said his foot has bothered him “for a little bit of time” and added he had trouble moving Tuesday night.
“It’s nothing too serious at all,” Gordon said. “I feel like I’ll be back playing soon.”
The Magic trailed by as many as 23 points in the second quarter, but they showed some fight after that.
They drew within 94-86 on a jumper by Evan Fournier to open the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t get any closer.
The Rockets generated the cushion they needed with 5:05 remaining in the game. James Harden stole a pass by Fournier and then hurled the ball to Eric Gordon on the right wing. Gordon sank a 3-pointer — the Rockets’ 13th of the night — to extend the lead to 109-97.
The Rockets made 16 of their 38 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, while the Magic only sank six of their 25 attempts. The Rockets sit at the vanguard of the new NBA. The Magic occupy a spot on the other end of the spectrum.
“We did the best we could tonight, and obviously we gave them too many good looks,” Magic coach Frank Vogel said. “We got beat in the hustle areas in the first half. They had too many offensive rebounds. I think most of them were in the first quarter, and you can’t give them transition points and you can’t give them offensiverebound points. They’re too lethal in the half court to give them those types of plays.”
Harden, the Rockets’ MVP candidate, finished with 25 points on 6-of-21 shooting from the field and 10-of-14 shooting from the foul line. He distributed a game-high 13 assists.
The Magic fouled Rockets 3-point shooters on four separate occasions, leading to 10 Rockets points.
The Rockets (38-17) took control over the Magic (20-34) late in the first quarter and piled on during the second quarter.
Serge Ibaka made a jumper from 10 feet to put Orlando ahead 28-26 with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Then, the Magic collapsed.
The Rockets went on a 24-2 run — primarily against the Magic’s bench. The only points the Magic mustered during that stretch were two foul shots by D.J. Augustin.
The Magic went 7 minutes, 44 seconds without making a basket. They missed all 10 shots they attempted.
“Our bench didn’t play well their first run in there, and we gave up too many 3s,” Vogel said. “We had some coverage breakdowns. We got beat to some loose balls and offensive rebounds. That was a big part of the game.”