%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201139.4%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201139.4%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23FFC82E%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%232B3990%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23CF1F44%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M70.5%2C167.6c0%2C21.6-8.3%2C32.4-24.8%2C32.4H0.5v-27.4H34c4.9%2C0%2C7.4-3.5%2C7.4-10.4v-24.3c0-7.3-1.8-13.3-5.3-18.3%0A%09%09L7.4%2C81.4C2.4%2C74.9%2C0%2C67%2C0%2C57.5V32.7C0%2C10.9%2C8.1%2C0%2C24.3%2C0h42.3v27.6H36.2c-4.9%2C0-7.4%2C3.5-7.4%2C10.4v15c0%2C6.8%2C1.9%2C12.7%2C5.6%2C17.7%0A%09%09l28.4%2C38.5c5.1%2C6.9%2C7.6%2C15%2C7.6%2C24.1V167.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M110.5%2C200H81.6V11.7C81.6%2C3.9%2C85.4%2C0%2C93%2C0h40.3c16.6%2C0%2C24.8%2C10.9%2C24.8%2C32.7v57.5c0%2C21.6-8.3%2C32.4-24.8%2C32.4%0A%09%09h-22.8V200z%20M124.2%2C96.3c4.2%2C0%2C6.3-3.1%2C6.3-9.4V37c0-6.3-2.1-9.4-6.3-9.4h-11.2c-1.7%2C0-2.5%2C0.9-2.5%2C2.8v65.9H124.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M243.9%2C200h-30.4l-4.6-74h-17l-4.3%2C74h-30.9l16.7-189.6C173.9%2C3.5%2C177.3%2C0%2C183.5%2C0h32.7%0A%09%09c6.4%2C0%2C10.1%2C3.5%2C10.9%2C10.4L243.9%2C200z%20M199.7%2C27.6c-1.4%2C0-2%2C0.6-2%2C1.8l-4.3%2C70h13.9l-4.1-70c0-1.2-0.7-1.8-2-1.8H199.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M311.5%2C200h-37.8c-16.2%2C0-24.3-10.8-24.3-32.4V32.7c0-21.8%2C8.1-32.7%2C24.3-32.7h37.8v27.6h-26.6%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-6.6%2C3.1-6.6%2C9.4v126.2c0%2C6.3%2C2.2%2C9.4%2C6.6%2C9.4h26.6V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M381.7%2C200h-49.2c-7.8%2C0-11.7-3.9-11.7-11.7V11.7c0-7.8%2C3.9-11.7%2C11.7-11.7h49.2v27.6h-29.4%0A%09%09c-1.7%2C0-2.5%2C0.9-2.5%2C2.8v55h31.9V112h-31.9v57.8c0%2C1.9%2C0.8%2C2.8%2C2.5%2C2.8h29.4V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M484.4%2C200h-37.8c-16.2%2C0-24.3-10.8-24.3-32.4V32.7c0-21.8%2C8.1-32.7%2C24.3-32.7h37.8v27.6h-26.6%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-6.6%2C3.1-6.6%2C9.4v126.2c0%2C6.3%2C2.2%2C9.4%2C6.6%2C9.4h26.6V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M522.7%2C200h-28.9V0h28.9V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M582%2C200h-29.4V27.6h-21.8V0h73v27.6H582V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M665.9%2C200h-29.4v-77.3c-9.1%2C0-15.5-2.4-19.1-7.1c-3.6-4.7-5.5-11.9-5.5-21.5V0h28.9v88.7%0A%09%09c0%2C5.7%2C1.9%2C8.6%2C5.8%2C8.6h9.1c3.7%2C0%2C5.6-2.9%2C5.6-8.6V0h29.2v94c0%2C9.6-1.9%2C16.8-5.6%2C21.5c-3.7%2C4.7-10.1%2C7.1-19%2C7.1V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M802.3%2C167.6c0%2C21.6-8.3%2C32.4-24.8%2C32.4h-45.1v-27.4h33.5c4.9%2C0%2C7.4-3.5%2C7.4-10.4v-24.3%0A%09%09c0-7.3-1.8-13.3-5.3-18.3l-28.6-38.3c-4.9-6.4-7.4-14.4-7.4-23.8V32.7c0-21.8%2C8.1-32.7%2C24.3-32.7h42.3v27.6H768%0A%09%09c-4.9%2C0-7.4%2C3.5-7.4%2C10.4v15c0%2C6.8%2C1.9%2C12.7%2C5.6%2C17.7l28.4%2C38.5c5.1%2C6.9%2C7.6%2C15%2C7.6%2C24.1V167.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M875.5%2C200h-37.8c-16.2%2C0-24.3-10.8-24.3-32.4V32.7c0-21.8%2C8.1-32.7%2C24.3-32.7h37.8v27.6h-26.6%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-6.6%2C3.1-6.6%2C9.4v126.2c0%2C6.3%2C2.2%2C9.4%2C6.6%2C9.4h26.6V200z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M962.2%2C167.6c0%2C21.6-8.3%2C32.4-24.8%2C32.4H908c-16.2%2C0-24.3-10.8-24.3-32.4V32.7C883.6%2C10.9%2C891.7%2C0%2C908%2C0h29.4%0A%09%09c16.6%2C0%2C24.8%2C10.9%2C24.8%2C32.7V167.6z%20M926.7%2C172.6c4.2%2C0%2C6.3-3.1%2C6.3-9.4V37c0-6.3-2.1-9.4-6.3-9.4h-7.6c-4.4%2C0-6.6%2C3.1-6.6%2C9.4%0A%09%09v126.2c0%2C6.3%2C2.2%2C9.4%2C6.6%2C9.4H926.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M1051.9%2C167.6c0%2C21.6-8.3%2C32.4-24.8%2C32.4h-29.4c-16.2%2C0-24.3-10.8-24.3-32.4V32.7c0-21.8%2C8.1-32.7%2C24.3-32.7%0A%09%09h29.4c16.6%2C0%2C24.8%2C10.9%2C24.8%2C32.7V167.6z%20M1016.5%2C172.6c4.2%2C0%2C6.3-3.1%2C6.3-9.4V37c0-6.3-2.1-9.4-6.3-9.4h-7.6%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-6.6%2C3.1-6.6%2C9.4v126.2c0%2C6.3%2C2.2%2C9.4%2C6.6%2C9.4H1016.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M1092%2C200h-28.9V11.7c0-7.8%2C3.8-11.7%2C11.4-11.7h40.3c16.6%2C0%2C24.8%2C10.9%2C24.8%2C32.7v57.5%0A%09%09c0%2C21.6-8.3%2C32.4-24.8%2C32.4H1092V200z%20M1105.7%2C96.3c4.2%2C0%2C6.3-3.1%2C6.3-9.4V37c0-6.3-2.1-9.4-6.3-9.4h-11.2c-1.7%2C0-2.5%2C0.9-2.5%2C2.8%0A%09%09v65.9H1105.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Houston Rockets Take a Step Back In Loss to Magic – Player Grades
By Coty Davis
The Houston Rockets took to the road in a one game east coast trip to take on the Orlando Magic Wednesday, at the Amway Center. After a slow start in which they fell behind 20-10 early in the first quarter, the Rockets went on a 19-3 run to take a 33-27 lead. However, lack of defense gave the Magic a 59-53 lead at the half.
Overall, the team lacked energy and brought no effort on defense which ultimately cost the Rockets the game and ended their 3-game mini winning streak.
Here are the Rockets’ player grades from the game.
101. 169. 104. 38.
Rockets Player Grades
SF. Houston Rockets. TREVOR ARIZA. D. It was a tough night for Ariza. He shot 1-4 in the first half, and while he made a few plays in the second, it was not the type of game Rockets fans are accustomed to seeing from him. 8 points, 8 rebounds.
DWIGHT HOWARD. C. Howard had a solid night full of dunks. However, It was disappointing the way Howard played against his old club. There is NO WAY Magic’s second year forward Aaron Gordon should have dominated Howard in the low post, as well as Nikola Vucevic. He had a few nice alley-oop plays, but other than that didn’t have much of an impact tonight. As the defensive anchor for the team, even Howard played horrible defense against the Magic. 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block.. C. Houston Rockets
SG. Houston Rockets. JAMES HARDEN. B. <span style=
C+. After a tough night last game against Hornets, it was a solid night for Capela. He had a hot start offensively, and did a solid job rebounding for Houston. Glad to see Capela break out of the funk he was in Monday night. 10 points, 5 rebounds.. C. Houston Rockets. CLINT CAPELA
PG. Houston Rockets. PATRICK BEVERLEY. C-. It’s safe to say Beverley’s hot shooting streak has come to an end. He shot 25 percent in the first half, and was scoreless in the second until he hit two free throws late in the fourth. Even Beverley’s defense was a no show this game. 7 points, 2 assists.
Best Reserve
B+. While everyone else in Red Nation had given up on Lawson, I maybe the only fan who has not. This was the Ty Lawson I’ve been dying to see! I love how effective he played this game, and with the pick-and-roll offense the Rockets were unstoppable. Overall, great game for Lawson and hopefully this game is a start of a second chance in Clutch City. 11 points, 3 assists.. PG. Houston Rockets. TY LAWSON
Best Opponent:
A. With all due respect to Tobias Harris, Vucevic was the Magic’s best opponent against the Rockets. Although he does not get a lot of respect, Nikola has become one of the top big men in the league today. The way he dominated the paint against Howard was kind of embarrassing for Houston. Overall great game for the young center from Switzerland. 21 points, 6 rebounds.. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
Make sure you catch up on our entire Team Preview Series, our Houston Rockets Player Profile Series as well as our SCS Round Table Sessions to help you get through the early season. Start your morning with SCS Rocket Science Daily and visit us throughout the day to keep abreast of all your Houston Rockets news and updates.