The Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games, defeating the Orlando Magic 116-108 on Wednesday night.
Jalen Green scored 26 points, while Alperen Sengun contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds for Houston, which improved to 45-25 and maintained its hold on second place in the Western Conference.
Fred VanVleet added 19 points as the Rockets remained ahead of contenders like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 31 points, marking his fourth consecutive game scoring at least 30. Franz Wagner tallied 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Goga Bitadze added 19 points and eight boards off the bench.
Houston built a commanding lead in the third quarter with a 12-0 run, capped by three-pointers from Green and VanVleet. The Rockets shot 90.6% from the free-throw line, an impressive mark for a team ranked last in the league in free-throw percentage.
Despite outscoring Houston 36-28 in the fourth quarter, Orlando couldn’t overcome a 15-point deficit entering the final period. The Magic dropped their sixth straight home game and fell to 32-38, sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Dillon Brooks scored 15 points for the Rockets, while Tari Eason added 16 points and nine rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in 13 points off the bench.
Orlando’s struggles continued despite Banchero’s strong performance, as the team has now lost nine of its last 13 games. The Magic will look to break their skid in their next matchup.
