The Houston Rockets survived a wild one on Sunday night, taking down the Orlando Magic 117–113 in their first overtime game of the season and did  it without Tari Eason, who is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a strained oblique after Friday night’s collision with Jrue Holiday. Despite that loss, Houston found a way to grind out a win against one of the league’s stingiest defenses.

Orlando entered this matchup on a three-game win streak and remains the NBA’s best team at limiting three-point attempts, holding opponents well below their season averages. The Rockets, who typically go for over 31 threes per game , attempted just eight in the entire first half. On top of that, the Magic were missing several key starters, including Paolo Banchero (groin), Jalen Suggs (ankle), and Markelle Fultz (knee), but their depth came out swinging.

The Magic controlled the entire first half behind Franz Wagner’s ten quick points with their big three (Wagner, Carter, and da Silva) shooting at a scorching 71-percent. Orlando pushed their lead to as many as 14, clogging the perimeter, cutting off Houston’s kick-outs, and forcing the Rockets into scattered, disconnected offense. Even as Kevin Durant heated up, the Rockets couldn’t close the gap, shooting under 40-percent and coughing up six early turnovers. Orlando took a 55-46 lead into the half.

Things shifted in the third. Houston got aggressive, tightened the defense, and went on a 7-0run to trim the deficit to two. Orlando racked up fouls and Houston finally started to find life. Durant carried the offense with 25 through three quarters (he finished with 35 points, 13-24 FG, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) even while going 0-for-5 from deep. The Rockets dominated the glass but still struggled to convert those rebounds into second-chance points. Orlando held on 80-77 entering the fourth.

But then, the Magic cracked. Houston went on a 13-4 run behind Amen Thompson’s pace, Reed Sheppard’s midrange confidence, and Durant’s relentless pressure. The Rockets finally took their first real lead of the night at 95-94 on a Durant three- one of the few he hit after an 0-for-6 start. Orlando answered, Houston countered, and with the clock expiring, Şengün (30 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists) put up two in the paint to tie it 102–102 and send the game to overtime. 

Overtime belonged to Houston. Şengün opened with three the old-fashioned way, Thompson kept slicing through the lane for downhill buckets, and Durant delivered a cold fadeaway to push the lead to 113-110. Orlando tried to hang on, but foul trouble finally buried them- Carter fouled out, and Houston sealed the deal at the line.

The Rockets finished with four players in double-digit rebounds (Şengün 12, Thompson 10, Smith 10, Adams 13), won the rebounding battle 60–38, and got crucial contributions across the board: Sheppard with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, Thompson with his 12-10 double-double(12 points, 10 rebounds), Durant’s 37 notches, and Şengün’s vital OT plays.

It wasn’t clean, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but Houston showed composure, physicality, and real grit against a defense-centered Orlando squad. For a team that spent all week proving they can win ugly, this was their most resilient win yet.