Pre-Season Game 4: Houston Rockets VS Orlando Magic Preview

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

GAME NIGHT! The Rockets host the Orlando Magic for the second home preseason game of the young season. Join the Rockets as they celebrate 10 years at the Toyota Center

Tip-Off is at 7:00 p.m.

The Houston Rockets returned to Houston on Monday after taking part in the NBA Global Games, that had them travel from the Philippines, to Taiwan. With three games under their belt and a 2-1 record, Houston is a step closer to getting its rotation and roster in order. Both of the Rockets wins came at the expense of the Indiana Pacers who had difficulties with not only the Rockets fast break, but also Houston’s defensive intensity. The term Houston’s defensive intensity is something that has not been uttered since the Jeff Van Gundy days, but what the Rockets forced the Pacers into 19 turnovers leading to 27 points.

Back in Houston for their second home game of the pre-season the Rockets welcome the young Orlando Magic. Since being traded from the Magic, Rockets center Dwight Howard barely recognizes the team that drafted him. The Magic starting lineup of Maurice Harkless, Kyle O’Quinn, Arron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic, and Jameer Nelson are due for a rough season. Jameer is the captain and will have his hands full all season proving their is any magic left in Orlando. In their last game the Magic committed 28 turnovers but still beat the Dallas Mavericks 102-94.

In a recent interview with Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Dwight Howard said he was “upset” when the Magic allowed Tobias Harris to wear his No. 12 jersey following his departure from Orlando.

Howard said he was disappointed that, last February, after the Magic acquired Tobias Harris in a trade, the team granted Harris’ request to wear No. 12, Howard’s old number.

“I just think that despite whatever happened, there was a lot of things that I did and that we did as a team, and that number was special down there,” Howard said. “And I was a little bit upset about that.”

Injury Update: Omer Asik will not play. Likely to make preseason debut next week.

The Magic are 10-5 all-time in preseason action against the Rockets.