Awkwardness is present at the start of the match, on both sides. Orphan of its usual backcourt holder, made up of Markelle Fultz and Evan Fournier, the Magic relies on a duo made up of James Ennis and Nikola Vucevic to achieve the best start (12-8).
In the hard on the offensive plan, the Rockets then get underway, thanks to their collective. Proof of this is, to settle firmly in the controls, they sign a scathing 13-0, with 3-point successes from different players and baskets in the painting of Christian Wood (21-12).
Launched in attack, Houston can also count on the efficiency of its defense to impose its law in this part. The ball circulates well, nobody really forces their shots and the Texans thus maintain a comfortable lead, at the end of these first twelve minutes (32-17).
In the second act, the Rockets obviously don’t change a formula that works. Altruistic as possible, they get many open shots behind the arc, which they hasten to convert to fly to the scoreboard (46-21). On leaving the bench, Ben McLemore notably rises in temperature (3/3 for him, at 3-points).
Completely dominated, the Magic is short of solutions and struggles to register even a basket. The return to the game of Nikola Vucevic allows, of course, the men of Steve Clifford to raise (a little) the head, but the gap never falls below the bar of 20 units. Worse yet, he even goes beyond 30 points just before the break. And Houston is heading, for now, to quiet success (63-32).
Christian Wood flies over the debates
On returning from the locker room, the Rockets stay the course and continue to dissect the Florida defense, through the connection James Harden – Christian Wood (75-41). Only Nikola Vucevic offers a semblance of resistance on the Magic side, but he does not weigh very heavily against the Texas offensive strike force. And when John Wall or PJ Tucker misses almost nothing at 3-points, we quickly understand that nothing can happen to the men of Stephen Silas.
The minutes go by and the gap keeps getting worse. Served on a plate by Harden, Christian Wood took the opportunity to improve his statistics and achieve his sixth double-double in six games. Twelve minutes from the end, the suspense no longer exists in this part (93-57).
No need to dwell on this last quarter, which will only allow the usual substitutes to stretch their legs and heal their personal statistics. In orbit, the players of “Space City” are already far away and they will have no problem holding their advantage until the final buzzer, even making it grow (132-90).
Houston therefore returns to victory, after two consecutive losses, thanks in particular to 22 points and 15 rebounds from Christian Wood, coupled with 15 points and 13 assists from James Harden as well as 10 units or more from four other of his players. Opposite, Nikola Vucevic (22 points, 12 rebounds) lacked support and Orlando will have to react collectively, not to sink after the injury of Markelle Fultz …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmIIh5U_PTg
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