Houston Rockets 98 Orlando Magic 88-Recap

Dec 8, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson (14) controls the ball during the first quarter as Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley (2) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets showed their dangerous offensive potential in the pre-season with ball movement, dribble penetration, and fast-break offense, but had been unable to re-capture that same mode in recent weeks. After a solid overall team performance in a win over the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets once again took care of business against the Magic, cruising to a 98-88 win.

2 nights ago, James Harden led the Rockets to a win with a 34 point outing, and looked like his normal self once again, finishing with 27 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. Chandler Parsons added 18 points and Terrence Jones recorded another double-double, with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Dwight Howard, on his 28th birthday, scored 20 points and grabbed 22 rebounds.

Orlando Magic

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

28

8-18

0-0

2-4

5

1

6

3

2

0

1

3

-10

18

22

4-11

1-5

2-2

2

2

4

0

0

1

0

2

-12

11

39

5-12

4-6

1-3

1

1

2

4

3

1

2

4

-14

15

39

6-17

1-6

3-4

1

8

9

1

0

0

1

4

-17

16

33

2-11

0-3

4-6

1

2

3

0

1

0

2

4

-25

8

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

1

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

+3

0

18

1-4

0-0

0-2

1

4

5

0

1

3

0

5

-3

2

27

2-7

0-2

2-4

2

4

6

1

2

2

0

4

+2

6

22

4-10

2-5

2-3

2

3

5

3

2

0

0

0

+19

12

10

0-3

0-2

0-0

0

3

3

2

2

0

0

2

+4

0

1

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

+3

0

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   12
Points in the paint:   38
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   7 (7)

Houston Rockets

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

34

6-12

0-0

8-14

8

14

22

3

2

3

4

4

+5

20

35

6-13

2-4

2-7

2

11

13

0

2

5

1

3

+17

16

39

7-12

3-6

1-5

0

4

4

4

0

0

3

3

+11

18

39

3-9

2-8

1-3

1

3

4

3

0

1

1

2

+17

9

40

7-17

3-7

10-11

4

4

8

10

0

0

3

1

+22

27

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

4

0-1

0-1

0-0

0

2

2

0

0

0

1

2

-5

0

1

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

-3

0

23

2-5

0-2

2-2

0

6

6

1

0

1

0

2

+3

6

13

1-4

0-2

0-0

0

1

1

1

0

0

3

1

-10

2

13

0-3

0-3

0-0

0

0

0

0

1

0

2

2

-7

0

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   13
Points in the paint:   36
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   20 (22)

The numbers describe any typical Rockets game so far this season: 20 total turnovers, but 22 team assists leading to 32 made field goals, while shooting just 57 percent(24 for 42) from the free throw line.

For 3 quarters, the Rockets essentially dominated the game, taking a 83-71 lead into the 4th quarter, before the Magic made their only run of the game. Jameer Nelson and Aaron Afflalo accounted for 10 straight points, as the Magic went on a 20-8 run to cut the Rockets lead to just 91-81 with over 5 minutes left. But it was the birthday boy who scored 5 straight points, and blocked a Maurice Harkless dunk attempt that lead to a Harden layup, extending the Rockets lead to 98-85, to put the game away.