8:05 PM EST (NBA) - ORLANDO MAGIC VS. HOUSTON ROCKETS PREVIEW AND FREE PICKS
Time: 08:00 P.M. EST Venue: Toyota Center James Harden continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers, while Terrence Jones provides an inside presence in Dwight Howard's absence for the Houston Rockets. They're still looking to break out of a 3-point shooting slump, however, and will try to take advantage of the Orlando Magic's porous perimeter defense Tuesday night in Houston. Harden, second in the league with 26.9 points per game, has the Rockets (44-22) on the heels of Memphis and Portland for the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Western Conference. After being held to 33 points on 10-of-32 shooting over back-to-back losses to Portland and Utah, he scored 34 in a 100-98 win over the Clippers on Sunday. FREE BASKETBALL PICKS. Harden was 3 of 5 from beyond the arc versus Los Angeles after missing all eight attempts in the previous two games. The Rockets improved to 24-4 when he scores 30 or more." It was very important for us, just to go out and play well," Harden said. "The last two games we kind of struggled a little bit, but we got our pop back a little bit today and made key plays." Jones has averaged 16.5 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent over his last 11 games. He had averaged 9.4 points with 5.4 boards while limited to 12 of the team's previous 55 games due to injury. He now looks to record a fourth straight double-double for the first time in his career. Jones' contributions have been especially crucial with Howard missing the last 22 games because of a right knee injury, though he's expected back soon. Nicklaus Whitney. Houston has been cold from deep, however, going 7 for 30 against the Clippers and shooting 27.5 percent over the last five games compared to 34.8 percent previously. The Rockets get a league-high 33.5 percent of their scoring from 3-pointers and attempt 33.5 per game, but are 9-10 when making fewer than 10. Patrick Beverley is 6 for 26 (23.1 percent) over his last five games, and Trevor Ariza is 10 of 39 (25.6 percent) this month. Orlando lets opponents shoot 36.9 percent from 3-point range, ranking 28th in the league. The Magic (21-47) have dropped eight of 10 and are giving up 44.3 percent 3-point shooting in the last nine games. Their past five opponents have made an average of 12.2. They surrendered 18 on 35 attempts in a 123-108 loss to Cleveland on Sunday, their most allowed since March 2011." Tonight was not a great defensive effort. It was probably due to Cleveland and partly our effort, our execution defensively," coach James Borrego said. FREE SPORTS PICKS. "But we are a defensive team, and I'll continue to say that. Our identity is on the defensive end." Orlando has made some strides defensively since Borrego replaced Jacque Vaughn, allowing 99.5 points and forcing 16.6 turnovers per game while going 6-10. Opponents had previously averaged 102.3 points and 13.8 turnovers. The Magic's recent numbers on the road aren't exactly encouraging, however. They're allowing 105.9 points per game and 41.5 percent 3-point shooting during a 10-game road skid. Nicklaus James Whitney. Victor Oladipo has shot 32.0 percent in the last six away from home. Houston had won four straight in the series prior to a 120-113 loss Jan. 14. Oladipo scored 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting while the Rockets committed 21 turnovers. The Rockets are 14-3 at home since Dec. 31 with the only losses coming to the West's division leaders.
Time: 08:00 P.M. EST Venue: Toyota Center James Harden continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers, while Terrence Jones provides an inside presence in Dwight Howard's absence for the Houston Rockets. They're still looking to break out of a 3-point shooting slump, however, and will try to take advantage of the Orlando Magic's porous perimeter defense Tuesday night in Houston. Harden, second in the league with 26.9 points per game, has the Rockets (44-22) on the heels of Memphis and Portland for the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Western Conference. After being held to 33 points on 10-of-32 shooting over back-to-back losses to Portland and Utah, he scored 34 in a 100-98 win over the Clippers on Sunday. FREE BASKETBALL PICKS. Harden was 3 of 5 from beyond the arc versus Los Angeles after missing all eight attempts in the previous two games. The Rockets improved to 24-4 when he scores 30 or more." It was very important for us, just to go out and play well," Harden said. "The last two games we kind of struggled a little bit, but we got our pop back a little bit today and made key plays." Jones has averaged 16.5 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent over his last 11 games. He had averaged 9.4 points with 5.4 boards while limited to 12 of the team's previous 55 games due to injury. He now looks to record a fourth straight double-double for the first time in his career. Jones' contributions have been especially crucial with Howard missing the last 22 games because of a right knee injury, though he's expected back soon. Nicklaus Whitney. Houston has been cold from deep, however, going 7 for 30 against the Clippers and shooting 27.5 percent over the last five games compared to 34.8 percent previously. The Rockets get a league-high 33.5 percent of their scoring from 3-pointers and attempt 33.5 per game, but are 9-10 when making fewer than 10. Patrick Beverley is 6 for 26 (23.1 percent) over his last five games, and Trevor Ariza is 10 of 39 (25.6 percent) this month. Orlando lets opponents shoot 36.9 percent from 3-point range, ranking 28th in the league. The Magic (21-47) have dropped eight of 10 and are giving up 44.3 percent 3-point shooting in the last nine games. Their past five opponents have made an average of 12.2. They surrendered 18 on 35 attempts in a 123-108 loss to Cleveland on Sunday, their most allowed since March 2011." Tonight was not a great defensive effort. It was probably due to Cleveland and partly our effort, our execution defensively," coach James Borrego said. FREE SPORTS PICKS. "But we are a defensive team, and I'll continue to say that. Our identity is on the defensive end." Orlando has made some strides defensively since Borrego replaced Jacque Vaughn, allowing 99.5 points and forcing 16.6 turnovers per game while going 6-10. Opponents had previously averaged 102.3 points and 13.8 turnovers. The Magic's recent numbers on the road aren't exactly encouraging, however. They're allowing 105.9 points per game and 41.5 percent 3-point shooting during a 10-game road skid. Nicklaus James Whitney. Victor Oladipo has shot 32.0 percent in the last six away from home. Houston had won four straight in the series prior to a 120-113 loss Jan. 14. Oladipo scored 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting while the Rockets committed 21 turnovers. The Rockets are 14-3 at home since Dec. 31 with the only losses coming to the West's division leaders.
