The NBA is back! After what feels like a very long all-star break, the regular season continues with games on Friday. The Houston Rockets will hit the road and take on the Orlando Magic. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Rockets-Magic prediction and pick.
Both of these teams have had horrible starts to the season. The Houston Rockets haven't won a game since the beginning of February but will look to start things off right after the break. While the Orlando Magic have also struggled, losing their last four matches before the break. This should be an interesting match between two of the worst teams in the league.
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Here are the Rockets-Magic NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Rockets-Magic Odds
Houston Rockets: +4 (-108)
Orlando Magic: -4 (-112)
Over: 234.5 (-110)
Under: 234.5 (-110)
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Why The Rockets Could Cover The Spread
The Houston Rockets have had a tough season so far. Through their first 58 games, they only have managed to win 15 and have lost a staggering 43 of their matches. Maybe the all-star break is what this team needed to start gaining momentum. They have a big opportunity to steal a win on Friday against the Magic. Orlando is one of the only teams in the league with fewer wins than Houston. If the Rockets come into this match ready and take it seriously, then they could certainly end up on top.
The Rockets ended on seven straight losses before the break. They will need to break some of their trends if they want to have a strong finish to the season. The biggest thing they need to adjust is their defense. Houston is an offensive heavy team, they abide by the mantra “live by the three, die by the three,” however, their offense has rarely been enough to win them games. If Houston really wants to turn things around they will need to get it done on both sides of the ball. Scoring 110+ points is irrelevant if your opponent scores 130+.
One of the best things about the all-star break is that it is an actual break for a lot of players. Teams that have been dealing with injuries are actually given a chance to breathe and recover. The Rockets have certainly taken advantage of this and are coming into Friday's match with only two players listed on their injury report. Neither are new additions, so this Rockets team is essentially at full health and should be ready for battle. If Houston can step up their defense, their offense should have no problem taking care of the rest.
Why The Magic Could Cover The Spread
The Orlando Magic have been quite possibly the worst team in the NBA this season. With only 13 wins and 47 losses, the Magic are one of the only teams in the league with a worse record than their opponent. Orlando was dominated in their last seven games leading up to the break but will look to turn things around on Friday. This is definitely a winnable game for the Magic and the Rockets are certainly a vulnerable opponent. If Orlando can start coming together as a team and playing better basketball, then they could end up on top in this match.
The biggest problem with this Magic team is the amount of time it takes for them to get going. Orlando has been notoriously slow at the start of games and their opponents have capitalized on it. In their last four matches leading up to the break, the Magic were outscored by 10+ points in the first quarter. That means that from the start of the game they were already in a deep hole. The Magic have not played from out front much this season and that is a big reason why. If Orlando can come out strong then they might be able to hold on to a lead, but if they start off short then little is likely to change.
Injuries have been a factor for this team all season. Currently, the Magic have four players listed on their injury report, none of which will be available for Friday's match. However, prior to the all-star break, Orlando regained some key contributors. The Magic may be dealing with injuries, but they have enough healthy roster members to be competitive. If this team can just come out strong then they could win this game.
Final Rockets-Magic Prediction & Pick
This is a really interesting match. Whenever two of the worst teams in the league face off, anything can happen and this match is no exception. It's tough to make a pick on games right after the break since you can't really factor in momentum, but the Magic should have an edge here. The Rockets are just too inconsistent to pick and if they aren't hitting their shots then they have no chance. Pick Orlando to win and cover.
Final Rockets-Magic Prediction & Pick: Orlando Magic -4 (-112)
FINAL ROCKETS-MAGIC SCORE PREDICTION: Magic 122 – Rockets 112
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