The Houston Rockets stretched their longest winning streak of the season to eight games with a strong 116-108 victory against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The win marked the Rockets' first time reaching 20 games above .500 since April 2019, reinforcing their hold on second place in the Western Conference with a record of 45-25.
Once again, it was Jalen Green leading the charge. Green poured in 26 points along with seven rebounds, shooting 8-of-18 from the field and finishing with a game-high plus-19 rating in his 37 minutes. His impressive form has sparked Houston's late-season surge as they aim to secure home-court advantage for multiple playoff rounds.
Joining Green, center Alperen Sengun contributed significantly, adding 22 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, converting exactly half of his 18 attempts. Forward Tari Eason provided energy on both ends, tallying 16 points, nine rebounds, five steals, and four assists, shooting an efficient 7-of-10 from the field. Veteran guard Fred VanVleet scored 19 points, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, while Dillon Brooks added 15 points on 50 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Despite struggling from deep as a team—shooting just 31.4 percent (11-of-35)—the Rockets were near flawless at the free-throw line, going 29-of-32 (90.6 percent). Coach Ime Udoka praised his team's composure from the charity stripe, highlighting its importance in tight matchups. "Everybody stepped up with confidence and knocked them down," Udoka said postgame. "We get to the line quite a bit; we just need to stay consistent. That can help us avoid having so many close games."
Green has especially thrived since VanVleet returned to the lineup one week ago, averaging 27.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, with an impressive true-shooting percentage of 58.0 percent during that span. Houston remains undefeated (5-0) in those contests, and Green's consistent production has been pivotal, as the Rockets have outscored opponents by an average of 16.2 points per game during his minutes.
The Magic, holding the NBA's second-best defensive rating coming into the game, couldn't slow down Green and the Rockets' balanced offensive attack. Orlando's Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 31 points and added six rebounds and five assists, while Franz Wagner delivered a strong all-around game with 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Coach Udoka praised Green's improved maturity, noting the growth in his decision-making against defensive pressure. "He's just much more settled," Udoka remarked. "He's seen everything at this point. They blitzed him late, and he handled it better than last year. Every off game he has, he quickly bounces back with a great stretch."
Forward Jabari Smith Jr. also played effectively, contributing 13 points, two steals, and two blocks in just 26 minutes of action. Veteran Steven Adams continued to anchor the interior defensively, posting a plus-22 rating despite limited scoring.
Houston clinched at least a spot in the 2024-25 Western Conference play-in tournament with this victory—officially guaranteeing postseason basketball for the first time since 2020. However, given their current No. 2 seed standing, the Rockets appear positioned to bypass the play-in entirely and secure a direct playoff berth.
Guard Amen Thompson remained sidelined due to a left ankle sprain, although he is expected to return soon, providing another boost to an already confident Rockets team aiming to maintain their momentum into the playoffs.