SB Nation Houston - Rockets Vs. Magic: Houston Opens Regular Season With 104-95 Loss In Orlandohttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-12-26T22:22:09-06:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24267552011-12-26T22:22:09-06:002011-12-26T22:22:09-06:00Rockets Vs. Magic Final Score: Houston Drops Season Opener 104-95
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> opened their 2011-2012 regular season with a 104-95 road loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a>. Houston was able to stay within striking distance throughout the game but was unable to overcome some clutch shot making by Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu and <span>J.J. Redick</span>. </p>
<p><span>Kyle Lowry</span> led the Rockets with 20 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. <span>Luis Scola</span> added 19 points and seven rebounds but was just 8-18 from the field. <span>Courtney Lee</span> came off the bench to score 15 points while Terrance Williams added 13 in the loss. Kevin Martin struggled in the loss scoring just four points on 1-10 shooting from the field in 33 minutes. </p>
<p>Turkoglu led the Magic with 23 points while <span>Dwight Howard</span> added 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. J.J. Redick came off the bench to score 20 points while <span>Glen Davis</span> chipped in 13. Turkoglu and Redick combined to go 18-26 from the field and were a combined 6-8 on three point attempts. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game Houston Rockets fans should check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #365317; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/">The Dream Shake </a>while Orlando Magic followers should take a look at <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #365317; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a>. For everything NBA, be sure to visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #365317; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>.</i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2663026/rockets-vs-magic-final-score-houston-drops-season-opener-104-95Kris Willis2011-12-26T20:24:04-06:002011-12-26T20:24:04-06:00Rockets Lose In Orlando
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<p>In a game that seemed very similar to last season, the Rockets kept it close against a good team for most of the game but still lost. The defense was once again the problem, giving up wide open looks behind the arc and easy paths to the basket on the pick and roll. The Magic killed the Rockets from 3 shooting 9-22 (40%) to the Rockets 6-27; you can’t win games like that. There were some positives though with the good play of Scola who had 19 points, Lowry with a double-double, and the surprising play of Dalembert who had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 20 minutes of play. Good thing the Rockets have 2 off days before the home opener vs. the Spurs, their defense needs a lot of work.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662891/rockets-lose-in-orlandoBrian McDonald2011-12-26T20:15:00-06:002011-12-26T20:15:00-06:00Rockets Down 8 in 4th
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<p>The same story line has continued into the 4th quarter; the Rockets get the lead down to 3 or 4, Magic go on a run. The Rockets defense has just been awful at times, giving up wide open 3-pointers and drives to the basket off the pick and roll. The worst of it was with a lineup without Dalembert or Jordan Hill; McHale should never use that lineup again. Looks like the Rockets will be 0-1.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662878/rockets-down-8-in-4thBrian McDonald2011-12-26T19:54:58-06:002011-12-26T19:54:58-06:00Rockets Keep It Close Going Into The 4th
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<p>The Rockets defense continues to struggle overall giving up wide-open looks from behind the arc and letting guys get to the basket too easily on pick and rolls. However, the brilliance of Scola, Dalembert, and Lowry are keeping them in it. Yes, I said Dalembert. So far Dalembert has 8 points on 4-4 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 steal in just 16 minutes of play. Kyle Lowry led the way during the 3rd and is now flirting with a triple-double with 15 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds. The Rockets closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 4 but will need to play better defense to win this game.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662841/rockets-keep-it-close-going-into-the-4thBrian McDonald2011-12-26T19:20:58-06:002011-12-26T19:20:58-06:00Rockets Trail By 3 At The Half
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<p>Despite trailing by double digits during the 2nd quarter, the Rockets rallied and head into the locker room down just 3 at halftime. For the Rockets, Luis Scola was outstanding with 15 points to lead them in scoring; Dwight Howard led the Magic with 16 points. In defending Howard, the Rockets mixed it up with some zone and didn’t double him much if at all. The Rockets offense overall looked good shooting 47% but Kevin Martin really struggled shooting 0-6. The offense run under Adelman fit Martin perfectly, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly he can adapt this season. They did however struggle from behind the 3-point line, shooting just 3-14. To the Rockets new addition, Dalembert played limited minutes due to conditioning but was very effective during his time on the court. He scored 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. The key to the 2nd half, much like last year, will be defense. The Rockets continue to score with ease, but gave up 53% shooting to the Magic in the 1st half; that’ll have to improve for them to steal a victory on the road.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662792/rockets-trail-by-3-at-the-halfBrian McDonald2011-12-26T19:20:41-06:002011-12-26T19:20:41-06:00Rockets Vs. Magic Score: Orlando Takes 53-50 Lead Into Halftime Against Houston
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> trail the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> 53-50 at the half in their 2011-2012 season opener in Orlando. A late Rockets run helped pull them to within three points despite a sub par opening half from <span>Kevin Martin</span>. </p>
<p><span>Luis Scola</span> paced Houston with 15 points and five rebounds. Scola hit 6-9 shots in the first half. <span>Kyle Lowry</span> also had a solid first half finishing with nine points and nine assists. The Rockets have to feel pretty good to only be down three points after Kevin Martin struggled his way through the first half. Martin finished with just two points and didn't make a field goal going 0-6. Kevin McHale will be looking for ways to get Martin some easy looks in the second half to get him going. </p>
<p><span>Dwight Howard</span> established himself early in the game and has 16 points and four rebounds at the half. <span>J.J. Redick</span> came off the bench to score 10 points while <span>Ryan Anderson</span> has eight. Orlando hit a very solid 53 percent of its field goal attempts in the first half. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on this game Houston Rockets fans should check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #365317; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/">The Dream Shake </a>while Orlando Magic followers should take a look at <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #365317; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a>. For everything NBA, be sure to visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #365317; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA hub</a>.</i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662721/rockets-vs-magic-scoreKris Willis2011-12-26T19:04:17-06:002011-12-26T19:04:17-06:00Rockets go on 8-0 Run
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<p>The Rockets shooting went cold early on in the 2nd quarter but started running the offense through Scola in the post with good results. On back to back trips they scored on a give and go cut from Scola to Lowry, then a hook by Scola over Dwight Howard. The 8-0 cuts the lead to 44-41 with 3:48 remaining.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662749/rockets-go-on-8-0-runBrian McDonald2011-12-26T18:52:51-06:002011-12-26T18:52:51-06:00Rockets vs. Magic - 1st Quarter
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<p>Jordan Hill started off the game well with 4 points and a block but picked up two quick fouls and had to sit on the bench. Samuel Dalembert filled in well after replacing Hill with 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block in 7 minutes of action but looked to get winded pretty quickly. The key bigs led the way for both teams with Scola and Howard combining for 16 points. One other thing to watch was the Rockets opening up with zone on defense, it’ll be interesting to watch if that’s a trend this season. The Rockets trailed 27-23 at the end of the 1st quarter.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-rockets/2011/12/26/2662727/rockets-vs-magic-1st-quarterBrian McDonald