Free NBA Pick: Magic vs. Rockets NBA Odds
Looking for Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Magic taking on the Rockets on Wednesday, December 21st, 2022 at the Toyota Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Magic-Rockets matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(11-21) Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets (9-21)
Date: Wednesday, December 21st
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
NBA Moneyline Odds: Magic -125 | Rockets +100 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Magic -2
NBA Betting Total: 223.5
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Wednesday, December 21st finds the Orlando Magic facing the Houston Rockets for the second and final time this season. The Rockets won the initial match 134-127 on November 7th.
Both teams last played on Monday with the Magic losing 125-126 in a nailbiter versus the Hawks while the Rockets lost 105-124 to the Spurs.
Last season, the squads played twice splitting the contests with each team winning on their home court. The Rockets hold the all-time record having bested the Magic in 38 of their 66 matches.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Tuesday evening, December 20. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Wednesday, December 21.
Orlando Magic
There are no moral victories but there is much to celebrate in Orlando despite their winning streak being halted at six in a row.
Oddly the team that beat them (the Hawks) has much more to answer for despite the win as they coughed up a 13-point lead in the closing minutes and almost lost the match.
As I noted during this run, the intangible of confidence has major value, particularly for young squads and this recent success is something that the young Magic will use and grow from.
Offensively the Magic average 109.4 points per game ranking 28th overall. They shoot 46.7% from the field and 34.4% from the perimeter ranking 17th and 21st respectively.
Defensively, Orlando holds their opponents to 113.3 points per game ranking 15th. The Magic allow opponents to shoot 47.0% from the field ranking 17th and foes shoot 33.2% from the perimeter ranking second overall.
Franz Wagner is questionable. Gary Harris (hamstring), Jalen Suggs (ankle), Chuma Okeke (knee), Wendell Carter Jr. (foot), and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are out.
Houston Rockets
Jalen Green leads the team as the only 20 points scorer averaging 21.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
He’s shooting 40.9 percent from the field on 17.6 attempts, 31.0 percent from the perimeter on 7.0 attempts, and 79.7 percent from the stripe on 5.9 attempts.
Offensively, the Rockets score 109.5 points per game ranking 27th overall. Houston shoots 44.2 percent from the field which is the worst in the league and 32.7 percent from the perimeter ranking 28th overall.
Defensively, the Rockets allow opponents to score 115.4 points per game which ranks 20th overall, while Houston’s foes shoot 47.6% and 36.7% from the perimeter ranking 21st and 24th respectively.
Jae’Sean Tate (ankle) and Garrison Mathews (illness) are questionable for Wednesday. Josh Christopher, Darius Days, and Trevor Hudgins are on G League assignment
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Magic are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games.
- The Rockets are 6-13 SU in their last 19 games at home.
- The Magic are 3-16 SU in their last 19 games on the road.
- The Rockets are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 games played in December.
- The Magic are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against Houston
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 6 games
Free Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets NBA Prediction:
Two of the teams expected to be right in the mix for the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes will use this game as a litmus test for which club is further along in the process.
Since it felt like the Basketball Gods stole the Magic’s seventh consecutive win I’m sticking with the Orlando group who have a swagger and deservedly so.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Magic ATS
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