The Orlando Magic play the Houston Rockets Thursday at Kia Center
Game time: 7:30 p.m., Kia Center, Orlando
TV: Fan Duel Sports
Betting line: Magic +2.5
LAST GAME:
Wendell Carter Jr. tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds, including the game-winning putback with 6.7 seconds left, as Orlando overcame a 12-point deficit and defeated the L.A. Lakers, 110-109, at Crypto.com Arena. The Magic finished their West Coast trip with a 3-1 record. Paolo Banchero recorded 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Magic while Desmond Bane poured in 22 points. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, while LeBron James and Deandre Ayton each netted 21 points. Trailing 109-108, Orlando looked to take the lead. Banchero missed a pull-up jumper, but Carter Jr. grabbed the loose rebound and hit the go-ahead layup with 6.7 seconds left. The Lakers had one final chance, but a three-pointer by James from the left wing was off the mark.
PROJECTED STARTERS
MAGIC
G Anthony Black
G Desmond Bane
C Wendell Carter Jr
F Tristan da Silva
F Paolo Banchero
ROCKETS
F Kevin Durant
F Jabari Smith Jr
C Alperen Sengun
G Tari Eason
G Reed Sheppard
INJURY REPORT
MAGIC
Colin Castelton: Out ( G League)
Alex Morales: Out (G League)
Franz Wagner: Out (Ankle)
Jalen Suggs: Questionable (back)
ROCKETS
Not Yet Submitted
QUOTABLE
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley on two straight wins against Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers: "Yeah, it's big. We had two very good basketball teams. Our guys being able to, LA the other night coming off of a tough loss against Phoenix and then being able to do it on a back-to-back and then coming here playing against a tough team. Our guys having the resiliency and the focus and the toughness and the togetherness to just continue to stay the fight and knowing exactly what we need to do on this backstretch."
Mosley on Jonathan Isaac: “He's huge for our team. He is a defensive difference maker and a game changer. Knowing he's back there protecting the rim, when he's able to keep guys in front of him one on one, not allowing guys to get by him, he changes the game for us as soon as he steps on the court defensively. And our guys know that, and that's what they trust him to do every time he gets out there.”
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of MagicRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com