Rockets’ Big Lineup Paying Off as Magic Seek Playoff Push

The Houston Rockets (37-25) are riding momentum after a dominant 146-117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans to open a six-game homestand. Now, they set their sights on the Orlando Magic (32-30), who snapped a five-game losing streak with a 111-109 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Rockets Find Success With Two-Big Lineup

Houston has been experimenting with a two-center lineup, pairing Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams, and the results have been promising. In the win over New Orleans, the duo combined for 26 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and four blocks, showing their effectiveness on both ends of the floor.

Coach Ime Udoka started using this look out of necessity when the Rockets struggled to match Dallas’ size on Feb. 8, and since then, the strategy has gained traction. At times, 6-foot-10 Jabari Smith Jr. has joined them, making Houston’s frontcourt even more formidable.

“It’s been good,” Udoka said. “We like how they work together and just the size and physicality. It gives us another luxury lineup-wise, and when you pair it with Jabari at the three, it’s even bigger. We like how it’s looked and it’s something we’ll do going forward.”

Magic Overcoming Injuries to Stay in Playoff Race

Orlando has battled significant injuries all season, with their top four scorers—Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Moritz Wagner—all missing at least 20 games. Despite that, the Magic are still in the mix for a play-in spot but have little margin for error.

The season-ending injuries to Suggs (quad) and Moritz Wagner (knee) have forced Orlando to adjust on the fly, making consistency a challenge.

Coach Jamahl Mosley remains focused on keeping his team in the hunt, despite the roster uncertainty.

“Honestly, just one game at a time,” Mosley said. “This conference is so up-and-down, and the difference between the fifth and 10th seeds is going to keep fluctuating. We have to control what we can and play the way we need to play.”

Game Outlook & Prediction

The Rockets have found a winning formula with their size, while the Magic are fighting to stay in the playoff race despite their injury struggles. Expect Houston to control the paint and use its defensive presence to frustrate Orlando.

Prediction: Rockets 120, Magic 108

Will Houston’s size dominate again, or can Orlando build on its upset win over Milwaukee? Monday’s matchup will be a crucial test for both teams.

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