[WATCH/STREAMS!] Rockets vs Magic Live Free Online Broadcast 25 October 2023
The Orlando Magic will host the Houston Rockets at the Amway Center in Orlando on Octover 25 as the NBA returns to action. Rockets vs Magic Live Stream: How to Watch Without Cable
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Fred VanVleet and the Houston Rockets (0-0) will visit Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic (0-0) at Amway Center on Wednesday, October 25. Game time is 7:00 PM ET.
The Magic match up with the Rockets in a game that Orlando is currently a moderate favorite by 4 points. The matchup’s point total is 220.
How To Watch
When: Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Amway Center -- Orlando, Florida
TV: Bally Sports Florida
The Houston Rockets will hit the road to start their 2023-2024 campaign against the Orlando Magic. Tip off is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. ET on October 25th at Amway Center.
Both of these teams struggled to score last year. The Magic were ranked 26th overall, having averaged an unimpressive 111.4 per game. The Rockets, meanwhile, were ranked 28th with 110.7 per game.
Looking back to last season, the Magic finished on the wrong side of .500 (34-48), but they'll be hoping to turn things around this year. Similarly, the Rockets finished with a dismal 22-60 record.
As for their game on Wednesday, the Magic are the favorite in this one, as the experts expect to see them win by four points. They finished last season with a 45-34 record against the spread.
The Magic didn't have too much breathing room in their contest against the Rockets in their previous meeting back in December of 2022, but they still walked away with a 116-110 victory. Do the Magic have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Rockets turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
The Rockets are going to look entirely different this season after bringing in coach Ime Udoka, along with notably signing G Fred VanVleet and F Dillon Brooks. Houston is also hoping to see growth from its young trio of G Jalen Green, F Jabari Smith Jr., and C Alperen Sengun after going 22-60 last season.
The Magic finished with a 34-48 record in 2022-23 in the 2nd year under coach Jamahl Mosley. Orlando will lean on its budding duo of PF Paolo Banchero and SF Franz Wagner to lead the way offensively this season.
Even though the Magic should secure the home win to begin the season, I’ll PASS on their moneyline in this contest. If you can get Orlando’s moneyline at -160 or better odds somewhere, I’d feel more comfortable playing it straight up.
MAGIC -3.5 (-115) is the ideal play in the season opener as the Rockets will need time to adjust under Udoka. Orlando showed some promise a season ago and having a healthy G Markelle Fultz to orchestrate the offense should undoubtedly help.
The Magic were one of the best teams at covering the spread in 2022-23, going 45-35-2 ATS. Meanwhile, the Rockets were 33-45-4 ATS last season.
OVER 220.5 (-110) is the lean in this matchup as both of these teams were in the top half of the league in pace last season. That shouldn’t change under Udoka, who wants the Rockets to run the floor and shoot more 3s.
Houston will also need time to build chemistry on defense in Udoka’s system, so Orlando shouldn’t have issues putting up points on Wednesday.
From coach Ime Udoka to rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, the season opener will mark the official debuts for several members of the new-look Rockets.
From coach Ime Udoka to rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, the season opener will mark the official debut for several members of the new-look Rockets — who revamped their coaching staff, culture and roster this past offseason.
After finishing last season with a 22-60 record, the Rockets vowed that they are ready to move into phase II of their rebuilding project. To accomplish the feat, Houston must find a way to get off to a 2-0 start, which will mark the first time since the 2017-18 season.
When you are coming off several seasons of losing, you want to change that mindset early," Udoka said. "We have been trying to do that since Day 1. Even during the preseason, there was advantages of developing that winning mentality.
"But more so than that, it was about playing the right way and doing the things it takes to get a win. Everybody is 0-0 at the start of the season. There is a sense of hope, but we want to build the right way. We feel like if we do the right things, we will be in good positions to win games.
Houston is lifting off to a new era of Rockets basketball. The franchise made several changes this offseason, starting at head coach with the hiring of Ime Udoka. He's hardly the only new face in H-Town, however, as the Rockets figure to be a much more competitive ballclub with Fred VanVleet (19.3 PPG and 7.2 APG) and Dillon Brooks (14.3 PPG) leading the charge. Houston also jettisoned Kevin Porter Jr. to Oklahoma City and added Jeff Green, Reggie Bullock, and Aaron Holiday.
Will the Rockets' newcomers significantly bolster the team's young core? Jalen Green (22.1 PPG) and Jabari Smith (12.8 PPG and 7.2 RPG) have bright futures, and 2023 first-round draft picks Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore may need time to develop, but there is plenty to be excited about in Houston.
Last season, the Rockets scored 110.7 points per game (28th) and shot 45.7 percent from the field (28th), including 32.7 percent from three-point range (30th). Its opponents scored 118.6 points per game (28th) and shot 48.2 percent (21st) with a 37.4 shooting percentage from deep (27th). Houston ranked 13th in pace of play, per Dunks and Threes.
Orlando has enough talent to compete in the Eastern Conference, granted it plays with an edge this season. The Magic are loaded at the frontcourt, as Paolo Banchero (20.0 PPG and 6.9 RPG), Franz Wagner (18.6 PPG), and Wendell Carter Jr. (15.2 PPG and 8.7 RPG) form an exciting trio.
They are hardly the only intriguing players on the roster, however, as veteran guards Joe Ingles and Gary Harris, sophomore guard Jalen Suggs, and floor general Cole Anthony will be difference-makers if this squad is going to make the playoffs. That said, that may be asking too much from Harris, who isn't a long-term solution, and Suggs, who has failed to live up to his potential as the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Last season, Orlando scored 111.4 points per game (26th) and shot 47.0 percent from the floor (21st) with a 34.6 shooting percentage from long range (24th). Its opponents scored 114.0 points per contest (15th) and shot 47.6 percent (18th), including 35.1 percent from beyond the arc (6th). The Magic ranked 16th in pace of play, per Dunks and Threes.