Can Magic stop Rockets' win streak like they did the Cavs'?
Tue Mar 18 7:00pm ET
Field Level Media
After posting its most impressive victory of the season, the Orlando Magic look to carry the momentum into Wednesday's matchup with the visiting Houston Rockets.
Orlando ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' franchise-record 16-game winning streak with a 108-103 road victory on Sunday. The loss was just the fifth at home for the Cavaliers, who boast the NBA's best record.
The Magic face another tough challenge against Houston (44-25), which extended its season-best winning streak to seven games on Monday with a 144-137 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Orlando (32-37) concluded a five-game, nine-day road trip by outscoring Cleveland 61-43 in the second half of Sunday's victory. Paolo Banchero scored 24 points and Franz Wagner added 22 to lead the Magic.
"It's a big win," Banchero said. "Last game of the road trip. We knew this was going to be probably the toughest game coming in here on national TV against one of the better teams in the league also on a winning streak. So, big win."
Wendell Carter Jr. recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, which holds eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Carter played a key role on both ends of the floor for the Magic, who held Cleveland to 36.4 percent shooting from the field and 26.1 percent (6 of 23) from 3-point range in the second half.
"Our defense was great," Banchero said. "We were getting to their shooters, flying around, covering for each other. Then on offense, we just made enough plays, trusted each other, guys stepped up when they were called on to make big shots after big shots. It was a full team effort."
Orlando is monitoring the status of guard Cole Anthony, who exited Sunday's game in the first quarter with a left big toe strain and did not return.
The Magic are seeking to even the season series against the Rockets after losing 97-84 in Houston on March 10.
The Rockets kept their share of second place in the Western Conference with their dramatic win over Philadelphia on Monday.
Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 30 points off the bench and Jalen Green added 30 points with a career-high 13 assists for Houston, which rallied from a 25-point deficit.
"Jabari was huge," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. "Obviously, too many contributions to talk about across the board, but he was big. And then (Alperen Sengun) coming in, playing when he didn't play most of the second half. So Jabari was right there with everybody, but across the board, it was a great job by everybody. Very resilient win."
Green has scored at least 20 points in four straight games for the Rockets, who play eight of their final 13 games on the road.
Houston guard Amen Thompson, who will miss his sixth straight game on Wednesday with a sprained left ankle, could return as soon as Friday against the Miami Heat.
With Thompson sidelined, the Rockets have turned in a series of strong performances. That trend continued Monday when they matched the largest comeback win in franchise history against the Sixers.
"Whether we lose or win, we finna try to put a good effort out here and try to show some fight. We ain't finna lay down," Smith said. "So we just kept fighting. Buckets started to come our way, and shots started to fall. We got some energy and some juice."
- NBA roundup: Thunder demolish Grizzlies in playoff opener
- Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander among MVP finalists
- NBA roundup: Jalen Brunson leads Knicks' 4th-quarter rally past Pistons
- Bucks' Damian Lillard targeting Game 2 or 3 return
- Grizzlies star PG Ja Morant (ankle) playing vs. Mavericks
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich resting after medical emergency
- Lakers extend GM Rob Pelinka, add president to title
- Israeli PG Ben Saraf declares for NBA draft
- Suns owner Mat Ishbia calls season a 'failure'
- Grizzlies G Ja Morant (ankle) game-time decision vs. Mavericks
- Bucks' Damian Lillard off medication, but no timeline set for return
- Kings, GM Monte McNair part ways after play-in loss
- NBA notes officiating errors late in Warriors-Grizzlies game
- Pelicans tab Joe Dumars as EVP of basketball operations
- Mavericks GM: 'No regrets' on trading away Luka Doncic
- Bucks' Damian Lillard to miss start of playoffs
- Joe Dumars to become Pelicans' president
- Luka Doncic’s No. 77 Lakers jersey is NBA’s best-seller
- Nuggets' Josh Kroenke shares what went wrong in Denver
- Suns fire coach Mike Budenholzer after one season
Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (knee) has been listed as questionable for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the New York Knicks on Monday night. Stewart has been dealing with inflammation in his right knee since the end of the regular season and made an early exit in Game 1, leaving with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The 23-year-old big man had two points in the contest with five rebounds and two blocks. Paul Reed is likely to enter the rotation on Monday if Stewart can't play, although he probably won't see much time on the court behind starting center Jalen Duren, who will aim to bounce back in Game 2 after being held to seven points and six rebounds in Saturday's loss.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) has been listed as probable for Monday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon is back on the injury report with a right calf strain, but he is likely to play. The veteran was one of the stars of the show in the series opener on Saturday, posting 25 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in 46 minutes. The Clippers must improve their defensive effort against him on Monday night, though they aren't the only team that has struggled to contain him, as Gordon is averaging over 20 points per game this month.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) doesn't believe he'll face a minutes restriction in Sunday's playoff battle with the Orlando Magic. He suffered from posterior impingement in his right knee, forcing him to miss nine of the Celtics final 20 games of the regular season. Fortunately, head coach Joe Mazzulla reported Brown has looked good. Despite struggling from the three-point line, the 28-year-old has played well against Orlando during the 2024-25 campaign (two games), averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals. While the injury is still somewhat concerning for fantasy managers, Brown is worth including in any DFS lineup on Sunday.
Dallas Mavericks' F Anthony Davis scored 40 points on 16-of-29 shooting in a 106-120 loss to Memphis on Friday, Apr. 18.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) will play in Friday's elimination game against the Dallas Mavericks. Morant is dealing with a "severe" ankle sprain and received an injection in his ankle on Thursday. He was originally listed as questionable for Friday's game before the team upgraded his status to available. Morant's presence in the lineup is a major boost for Memphis, but it remains to be seen how effectively he can play through his ankle injury.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Brandon Williams (oblique) has been upgraded to available for Friday's play-in showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams was initially listed as probable for the game. The 25-year-old has added a spark to the Mavericks late in the season and was one of the standout performers in Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings, finishing with 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes off the bench. A similar effort from Williams on Friday night would boost Dallas' chances of victory in a tough road game.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (adductor) has been cleared to play in Friday's play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks have upgradEd Davis' status from probable to available after head coach Jason Kidd labeled the star big man a game-time decision. Following his adductor injury, Davis has steadily improved his form and opened the Play-In Tournament with a 27-point, nine-rebound effort against the Sacramento Kings.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (knee) will be active on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. He has not been listed on the injury report after a knee injury sidelined him for Milwaukee's regular-season finale. The veteran has improved his performances throughout the campaign and is averaging 12.6 points in 26.5 minutes since the All-Star break. Against the Pacers, Trent Jr. has done a lot of damage from downtown this season, nailing 59.3 percent of his triples to average 13.5 points in the matchup.
Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (knee) is set to return after a two-game absence on Saturday against the New York Knicks. The big man has recently experienced inflammation in his right knee and did not play in the team's last two regular-season games. Stewart and starting center Jalen Duren will face a tough challenge in the first-round series against Karl-Anthony Towns. In four regular-season matchups with the Knicks, Stewart managed only 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 22.5 minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (knee) will be welcomed back into the lineup for Saturday's playoff opener against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran was unavailable for the regular-season finale due to a knee issue. Prince has quietly played an important role for the Bucks this season, starting 73 of 80 games and contributing in multiple areas. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals during the regular season.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (knee) is off the injury report and good to go for Saturday's matchup against the New York Knicks. The versatile youngster exited the lineup for the team's regular-season finale due to left knee patellar tendinopathy, but he will be ready to make his postseason debut in Saturday's game. Thompson has improved each month in 2024-25, finishing the regular season by averaging 12.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.7 steals in April.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (ankle) will rejoin the lineup on Saturday for Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers held Reaves out of their regular-season finale due to a right ankle sprain. However, he has been removed from the injury report before the start of the playoffs. Reaves has had a fantastic year with the Lakers and will enter the postseason with very positive momentum. He has averaged 23.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this month, shooting a phenomenal 52.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (knee) is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team has not listed him on the injury report. Hachimura has spent a large chunk of the campaign on the injury report, but he appears to be fully healthy for the most important part of the season. He has missed three of the last six games, including the regular-season finale last Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Although health issues have significantly disrupted Hachimura's season, he has performed well when in the lineup, averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 31.7 minutes.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (quadriceps) does not appear on the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He did not play in the team's regular-season finale due to left quadriceps soreness. Last year, Doncic was outstanding in a series against the Timberwolves and is expected to deliver big performances again. The Slovenian superstar closed out the regular season in great form, averaging 31.8 points for April with 45.3 percent shooting from downtown.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (hip) is considered probable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After dealing with foot and groin injuries, James is now on the injury report with a left hip flexor strain. However, the probable tag suggests that he is expected to be on the floor. James was limited to 19.7 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting by the Timberwolves during the regular season. He will need to do better in the playoff series to avoid a second consecutive first-round loss with his team.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Rockets are "less likely" to pursue a trade for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant. ESPN's Shams Charania reported KD to Houston could be a possibility. However, the Stein Line has reported that a move between the clubs isn't expected since Durant "is not on the same timeline as Houston's promising young core." The multi-time All-Star is due to make north of $50 million in 2025-26, so a swap between the Rockets and Suns presumably would need to involve a few top-tier players. At any rate, Durant likely won't be in Phoenix next season. But no matter where he ends up, he should remain a top-15 fantasy option heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard (toe) is listed as probable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Sheppard sat out Indiana's final five regular-season games with a sprained big toe, but it seems like he will be available to return on Saturday. The 23-year-old will add some depth to the Pacers' rotation, but he does not hold significant fantasy value. Throughout the regular season, Sheppard settled for 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 19.5 minutes.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen would like to remain with the club. "Definitely," said Markkanen when asked if he wants to stay in Utah. "I love being in Utah." He also won't be phased by anticipated trade rumors this offseason. "We'll see what happens in summer, there's things you can't control, but I love being here and working out with the guys that we have and building this thing." The 27-year-old had a down season from a production standpoint in 2024-25, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 34.6% shooting from behind the arc. He was also limited to 47 games. However, with the Jazz finishing the 2024-25 campaign with one of the worst records in the National Basketball Association, it's safe to say he could have played more had the team stayed competitive. No matter where Markkanen ends up next season, he has All-Star potential. Still, he's the best player in Utah, so he'll likely be the most productive by staying with the Jazz. Markkanen agreed to a four-year, $220 million extension last offseason, potentially keeping him on the roster through 2028-29.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (calf) looks poised to return from a one-game absence on Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks, as the team has not included him on the injury report. Mathurin was unavailable last Sunday for Indiana's regular-season finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sitting out the action due to a left calf injury. Indiana will need all the firepower it can get to take down Giannis Antetokounmpo's crew, and Mathurin is expected to provide bench scoring in the matchup. The 22-year-old averaged 16.1 points during the regular season, but his output fell to 14.7 points after he was moved to the second unit following the All-Star break.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) has been officially cleared for Saturday's postseason opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. The star guard has been nursing a back issue lately, sitting out the last two regular-season games, but the team has not listed him on the injury report for Saturday. In his last appearance against the Bucks, Haliburton cooked up a nice 24-point, 15-assist double-double. For the season, he has registered 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, and 2.0 steals in the meetings between the Central Division rivals.
