Orlando Magic (13-47) vs Houston Rockets (15-43)
Game Info: Friday, February 25, 2022 at 7:00 pm (Amway Center)
Betting Odds: Orlando Magic -3.5 -- Over/Under: 228.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Houston Rockets invade the Amway Center to take on the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
The Houston Rockets have been in a horrid slump as they’ve lost 11 of their past 12 games overall and they will be hoping to arrest a seven-game slide after getting routed by the Clippers in a 142-111 road loss last Thursday. Jalen Green led the team in scoring with 21 points on eight of 15 shooting, Jae’Sean Tate added 19 points while Christian Wood and Joshua Christopher each scored 13 points. As a team, the Rockets shot 46 percent from the field and 13 of 37 from the 3-point line but their problems remained on the defensive end as they just had no answer for the Clippers who scored at least 35 points in every quarter.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have been in a real slump as they’ve lost six of their last seven games overall and they will be hoping to stop a four-game slide after getting thrashed by the Hawks in a 130-109 loss last Wednesday. Cole Anthony led the team with 23 points with seven rebounds and five assists, Jalen Suggs added 19 points while Wendell Carter Jr. tallied 10 points with 10 rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Magic shot just 42 percent from the field and 13 of 41 from the 3-point line, but they allowed the Hawks to get off to a quick start and were always fighting an uphill battle after allowing 72 points in the first half.
Looking at the betting trends, the Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games, 14-38 ATS in their last 52 games against a team with a losing record and 7-21 ATS in their last 28 games overall. The Magic are 8-26-1 ATS in their last 35 home games, 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine games playing on three or more days rest and 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall.
Head to head, the over is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings overall and the Rockets are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Orlando.
The Rockets have been one of the coldest teams in the league and their confidence took another big hit after getting dismantled by the Clippers in their last game before the All-Star break. You could say the same about the Magic who have struggled to get going despite having almost all their key players back in the lineup. This should be a close one, but the Rockets are just so bad defensively right now, so I’m leaning towards the Magic to get the much-needed win in this spot.