Rockets brutal 4th costly in 116-110 loss to Magic

POSTED: December 21, 2022 -- 11:47 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets were outscored 31-23 in the fourth quarter in a 116-110 loss to the Orlando Magic Wednesday night. Houston falls to 2-4 during its seven-game home stand with the final game vs. Dallas on Friday while Orlando has won seven of its past eight after losing nine in a row prior.

The Rockets have lost 4 in a row and now own a 9-22 record this season. Houston lost despite outshooting Orlando 46.6% to 45.1%. It is the Magic's first win of the season when being outshot (1-16 mark).

Houston began the game great with a 20-6 lead with 6:43 to go in the opening quarter. Orlando rookie Paolo Banchero kept his team in the game in the first quarter. Banchero scored 14 of the Magic's 25 points in the quarter. The Rockets led 31-25 after 1 quarter of action. Kevin Porter Jr (11) and Jalen Green (7) combined for 18 points in the quarter.

The Rockets led 46-35 with 7:42 remaining in the second quarter. The Magic went on a 14-6 run to trim Houston's lead to 52-49 with 3:45 left in the half. A balanced scoring attack helped the Rockets outscore Orlando 12-5 to end the first half with a 64-54 lead.

Houston increased its lead to 77-62 in the third quarter; however, Orlando responded with a 17-2 run to tie the game at 79. Rockets' rookie Tari Eason hit a 3 to break the tie. Houston led 87-85 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Orlando's zone defense disrupted Houston's rhythm on offensive. Houston turned over the ball 8 times in the fourth quarter which Orlando converted into 13 points.

KPJ scored 8 points in the final stanza; but, he did commit 3 of the team's 8 fourth-quarter turnovers.

After the game, Porter said the Rockets' offense "got static". He didn't believe Orlando's zone defense was much of a factor.

"That zone, it really wasn't anything," KPJ said. "It was kind of like a man zone where you get the ball in the middle; and, they flare out and they man up.

"We knew exactly what they were doing. We just wasn't moving fast enough. We were too slow when they got in that zone."

Rockets' Head Coach Stephen Silas commented, "We were just indecisive against it (the zone)."

Silas also lamented the fact the Rockets did not defend well enough in the second half.

"Get some stops. Really," a frustrated Silas remarked. "We gave up 62 (points) in the second half; so, get some stops."

Jalen Green had 21 points and a career-high tying 8 rebounds. However, he only took 1 field goal attempt in the fourth quarter.

"It was the zone," Green said in the locker room after the game. "We was trying to get ball movement; get everybody action; find the holes. So, we was just trying to get the best shot."

Alperen Sengun had 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists for his third double-double over the past seven games and his ninth overall this season.

KJ Martin finished the game with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 7 for 11 from the floor.

Paolo Banchero had 23 points and 13 rebounds, marking his sixth double-double this season. Franz Wagner had 25 points while shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Over the past seven games, he's averaging 22.3 points per game while shooting 39.0% from 3-point range.

NEXT:

The Rockets close out their 7-game homestand this Friday night, December 23, versus the Dallas Mavericks. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central Time.

NOTES:

Kevin Porter Jr is the third different Rocket to have recorded at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 5 three-pointers made in a game (James Harden 23 times, Chris Paul once).

The Rockets have shot below 70.0% from the line in each of the past four games after doing so three times the first 27 games of the season.

The Rockets have outshot their opponent in four of the past six games after doing so once the 10 games prior.

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