ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 3: Ryan Anderson #33 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Orlando Magic on January 3, 2018 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Orlando Magic Grades: Houston Rockets 116, Orlando Magic 98
The Orlando Magic’s offense never could get going against the high-powered Houston Rockets. Eventually, the Rockets overpowered them in a victory.
Early in the first quarter, the Orlando Magic were grinding. Their defensive gameplan to switch every screen appeared to be working. They were stifling one of the top offenses in the league and one of the league’s great powers.
They just could not get the ball in the basket.
An open 3-pointer would rattle in and out. They got the offensive rebound and would be unable to hit the next open shot. Then would come the next miss. And the Houston Rockets would answer with a 3-pointer.
The Magic were stuck on four points for nearly five minutes in the fourth quarter, getting buried in a 10-point hole. They kept themselves in it despite their poor shooting, but never close enough to make the game actually close.
By the time the third quarter came around, Orlando’s poor shooting was too much. The Magic shot just 38.5 percent from the floor and the Rockets’ offense finally came alive. Leading by as much as 28 points, Houston ran away with an 116-98 victory at the Amway Center. The Magic simply did not have the firepower to keep up with the Rockets, even with them operating at half throttle.
The Magic could not create good shots. Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier both struggled to get themselves going, shooting a combined 9 for 34 from the floor. Gordon, especially, forced his shots, trying to work around Ryan Anderson and, for a short time at center, Clint Capela.
With the Magic’s two best scorers unable to get going, the offense bogged down and everyone seemed to be going at it alone.
The Rockets eventually broke down the Magic’s defense. Houston was patient with its ball movement and each missed shot seemed to take a little bit of Orlando’s defensive will away. The Magic’s hope of slowing down the Rockets and staying disciplined on their shooters eventually fell away.
And Orlando never really gave itself a chance in this one.
Aaron Gordon has vast potential. And then there are games that will show you he is still learning what it takes to be a star in this league and he still has a long way to go. This game was the latter as Gordon put together perhaps the worst shooting performance of his young career. 
Gordon scored 16 points and made just 7 of his 23 shots. It would have been one thing if he took all those shots in the natural rhythm of the offense. But these shots seemed extremely forced. Gordon was trying to do too much and trying to play the star. He used a variety of fadeaways and post ups that just do not work for him.
The Magic had no choice but to turn to him it seemed. He is still their best player. And much of this season should be spent exploring all facets of his game. Gordon should have the space to have games like this from time to time. But the results obviously are what they are. He still has to make smart decisions.
" > AARON GORDON
PF, Orlando MagicC-
There are going to be games the rest of this year that will remind you Aaron Gordon has vast potential. And then there are games that will show you he is still learning what it takes to be a star in this league and he still has a long way to go. This game was the latter as Gordon put together perhaps the worst shooting performance of his young career.
Gordon scored 16 points and made just 7 of his 23 shots. It would have been one thing if he took all those shots in the natural rhythm of the offense. But these shots seemed extremely forced. Gordon was trying to do too much and trying to play the star. He used a variety of fadeaways and post ups that just do not work for him.
The Magic had no choice but to turn to him it seemed. He is still their best player. And much of this season should be spent exploring all facets of his game. Gordon should have the space to have games like this from time to time. But the results obviously are what they are. He still has to make smart decisions.
Evan Fournier to be efficient and provide consistent offense, especially form the outside. When he struggles, the team is inevitably going to struggle offensively. That was the case throughout this game as Fournier never could find his rhythm offensively. 
Fournier finished with 10 points on 2-for-11 shooting. He missed all five of his 3-pointers. This was just a bad game for him. Fournier was doing all the normal things he does offensively. He attacked off rotations. But for the second straight game, he could not find the basket. And that sucked the confidence away from the rest of the team.
To be sure, seeing both Gordon and Fournier struggle like this were killers for the team. Coach Frank Vogel said Evan Fournier is likely still recovering from missing three weeks with the sprained ankle. It may be a while before he looks fully right.
" > EVAN FOURNIER
G/F, Orlando MagicC-
Like Aaron Gordon, the Orlando Magic absolutely need Evan Fournier to be efficient and provide consistent offense, especially form the outside. When he struggles, the team is inevitably going to struggle offensively. That was the case throughout this game as Fournier never could find his rhythm offensively.
Fournier finished with 10 points on 2-for-11 shooting. He missed all five of his 3-pointers. This was just a bad game for him. Fournier was doing all the normal things he does offensively. He attacked off rotations. But for the second straight game, he could not find the basket. And that sucked the confidence away from the rest of the team.
To be sure, seeing both Gordon and Fournier struggle like this were killers for the team. Coach Frank Vogel said Evan Fournier is likely still recovering from missing three weeks with the sprained ankle. It may be a while before he looks fully right.
Mario Hezonja scored nine points and kept the Magic very much engaged in the game. He got some open jumpers and drained them. Hezonja looked most comfortable in transition. 
He finished with 14 points. But he cooled off considerably. The Magic lacked the energy they typically need to get Mario Hezonja more involved. He ended up hitting on 6 of his 14 shots in the end. A solid night for Hezonja, but not a spectacular one by any stretch.
Hezonja cooled off, but he did not make too many mistakes. A lone bright spot in a game that was sluggish for much of the team.
" > MARIO HEZONJA
F, Orlando MagicB
The Orlando Magic had one offensive outburst all game. In a second-quarter run, Mario Hezonja scored nine points and kept the Magic very much engaged in the game. He got some open jumpers and drained them. Hezonja looked most comfortable in transition.
He finished with 14 points. But he cooled off considerably. The Magic lacked the energy they typically need to get Mario Hezonja more involved. He ended up hitting on 6 of his 14 shots in the end. A solid night for Hezonja, but not a spectacular one by any stretch.
Hezonja cooled off, but he did not make too many mistakes. A lone bright spot in a game that was sluggish for much of the team.
Elfrid Payton some credit for showing some fight. One of the few times the team showed any type of fire throughout the second quarter until its deep bench unit came in. He picked up a technical foul with the team down by about 25 points early in the third quarter, frustration mounting from a team that was struggling on both ends. 
Elfrid Payton kept on attacking throughout the game. He was willing to make the drives and willing to take shots when it seemed the team was hesitant to do so with the poor shooting infecting seemingly everyone.
He finished with 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, adding four assists. Not a bad mark considering the team only had 16 assists for the game, a low mark for a team relies so heavily on assists to make baskets.
" > ELFRID PAYTON
PG, Orlando MagicB+
You have to give Elfrid Payton some credit for showing some fight. One of the few times the team showed any type of fire throughout the second quarter until its deep bench unit came in. He picked up a technical foul with the team down by about 25 points early in the third quarter, frustration mounting from a team that was struggling on both ends.
Elfrid Payton kept on attacking throughout the game. He was willing to make the drives and willing to take shots when it seemed the team was hesitant to do so with the poor shooting infecting seemingly everyone.
He finished with 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, adding four assists. Not a bad mark considering the team only had 16 assists for the game, a low mark for a team relies so heavily on assists to make baskets.
James Harden in the lineup. And there were plenty of shaky moments for the team. The Rockets committed 16 turnovers and kept the Magic in the game far longer than they should have with how poor the Magic shot the ball. Chris Paul did not have quite the command everyone is used to with this team. And the Rockets actually shot a relatively low 34 3-point attempts. 
But the shots did go down for them. And Houston’s defense was very solid all night, forcing Orlando into difficult shots. The Rockets were always going to win this game. And they were going to win it running away.
The lead ultimately cascaded in the third quarter. The Rockets had an easy time with this game, even without their best offense. The biggest regret was the Magic’s defensive gameplan worked, they just could not hit the shots to keep up.
" > HOUSTON ROCKETS
26-9, 2nd WestB
The Houston Rockets were a bit unsure how they would perform without James Harden in the lineup. And there were plenty of shaky moments for the team. The Rockets committed 16 turnovers and kept the Magic in the game far longer than they should have with how poor the Magic shot the ball. Chris Paul did not have quite the command everyone is used to with this team. And the Rockets actually shot a relatively low 34 3-point attempts.
But the shots did go down for them. And Houston’s defense was very solid all night, forcing Orlando into difficult shots. The Rockets were always going to win this game. And they were going to win it running away.
The lead ultimately cascaded in the third quarter. The Rockets had an easy time with this game, even without their best offense. The biggest regret was the Magic’s defensive gameplan worked, they just could not hit the shots to keep up.
The Orlando Magic are back in action at the Amway Center on Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
