GameNight SpecificsNBA Coverage: Game InfoDate: Monday, December 26Time: 7 p.m.Location: Amway Center (ORLANDO, FL)Radio: AM 580 WDBO, AM 1270 WRLZTelevision: Sun Sports
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LINEUPS MAY CHANGE BY GAME TIME
PREGAME INFO
Last Season’s Results: The Magic won both of the two meetings against the Rockets last season.
Jan. 7: Jason Richardson led Orlando with 18 points as six Magic players scored in double figures.
Jan. 22: A couple of weeks later in Houston, another balanced attack guided Orlando to the victory. Dwight Howard racked up 22 points and 14 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu accumulated 21 points.
Key Matchup: Jason Richardson vs. Kevin Martin
J-Rich finished second in the league last season in 3-pointers made (189), while Martin was the ninth top scorer (23.5 ppg) in the NBA.
Instant Analysis: Although the Rockets feature a similar lineup and rotation from last season, a blocked trade from two weeks ago nearly changed all that.
An agreement in principle was made that would have delivered Pau Gasol to Houston as part of a Chris Paul-to-the-Lakers proposed deal. But after that trade was rebuffed last second, the Rockets had to restore their core, including top scorers Martin and Luis Scola.
It remains to be seen if those turn of events will be a distraction this season for the Rockets, who hope to advance to the playoffs after falling short of that goal last year.
Other Notables: Orlando is 14-9 all-time against Houston at home during the regular season. The Magic and Rockets played each other in the NBA Finals in 1995. Patrick Ewing and Steve Clifford previously served as assistant coaches in Houston.
Magic vs. Heat (12/21/11): Denton | Savage | CohenMagic at Heat (12/18/11): Denton | Savage | Cohen
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