Houston Rockets at Orlando Magic NBA Picks & Predictions 1/3/2018

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Amway Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to Amway Center to play the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 5 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 26-9. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.3 as they are averaging 115.2 points per game while giving up 106.9 per contest. The Magic have an overall record of 12-26. They currently are 4th in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 104.7 points per game and surrendering 110.0, good for a point differential of -5.3.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 16-18-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 18-16-1 against the over/un=DEr

Important Orlando Magic Betting Trends

The Orlando Magic are 14-24-0 against the spread

The Orlando Magic are 18-20-0 against the over/un=DEr

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/31/17 G James Harden Hamstring is out indefinitely
12/14/17 F Luc Mbah a Moute Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Orlando Magic Injuries

12/30/17 F Jonathan Isaac Ankle is out indefinitely
12/24/17 C Nikola Vucevic Hand is out indefinitely
11/30/17 G Terrence Ross Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul comes into this contest averaging 17.2 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 5.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 8.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is currently at 92%. Eric Gordon averages 19.4 points per game in 32.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 2 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Jonathon Simmons averages 14.6 points per game while playing 29.3 minutes per contest this year for the Magic. He grabs 4 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%. Evan Fournier averages 18.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.2 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 115.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.37 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 43.8 rebounds per game and 22.2 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 18th in those offensive categories. In the turnover =DEpartment they rank 9th with 15.3 per game. The Rockets allow 106.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 23rd and 22nd in those =DEfensive categories. Opponents average 41.2 rebounds a game which ranks 5th and they give up 22.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Orlando is 16th in the league with 104.7 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -5.32. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 17th in the NBA. They are 22nd in the league in rebounding with 41.7 boards per game, and 9th in assists per contest with 23. The Magic are 12th in turnovers per game with 14.8. The Magic surren=DEr 110 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their =DEfense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 28th in those =DEfensive statistics. They rank 28th with 24.7 assists allowed per contest and 30th with 46.5 rebounds surren=DEred per game. The Magic are 13th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 107.1, and their offensive rating of 115.5 is ranked 20th. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA. Houston is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 9th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Orlando is 14th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA. The Magic are 26th in the league in defensive rating with 110.5, and their offensive rating of 105.1 is ranked 5th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 99.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 16th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 15th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Rockets/Magic NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Orlando +5

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