HOUSTON — Reserves Corey Brewer and Josh Smith provided energy and production when the Houston Rockets desperately needed it, leading the way to a 107-94 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Toyota Center.
Brewer and Smith combined to score 15 of the Rockets’ 18 points during one critical stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters, erasing the largest deficit of the game while shaking Houston (45-22) from its lethargy. Brewer, a guard, posted a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) while Smith, a forward, added 17 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Magic guard Victor Oladipo poured in a game-high 29 points and claimed his individual matchup with Rockets All-Star guard James Harden, who paired 17 points with eight rebounds but missed 10 of 14 shot attempts. But even with Harden struggling with his shot, the Rockets found enough offense to stifle the spry Magic (21-48).
Houston forwards Donatas Motiejunas and Trevor Ariza combined for 40 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists while guard Patrick Beverley chipped in 12 points and seven assists despite being a game-time decision with right elbow bursitis.
Guard Ben Gordon chipped in 13 points off the Orlando bench while Magic center Nikola Vucevic posted 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The primary advantage Houston held in the first half, points in the paint, shifted in favor of the Magic in the third quarter.
With stunning ease Orlando penetrated the lane on offense, accumulating a series of driving layups and easy dunks that quickly erased a six-point deficit.
The Rockets led 56-50 on a Motiejunas free throw with 10:56 left in the third before the Magic pulled even with a 10-4 run capped by an Oladipo steal and transition dunk at the 8:11 mark. Orlando kept scoring inside, and by the close of the period nearly matched its 20 first-half paint points with 18 en route to a 78-71 lead with 35.1 second left.
But that’s when Smith bailed out the Rockets, stroking a corner 3-pointer with 26.4 seconds left before adding a buzzer-beater as the third quarter came to a close. Suddenly that seven-point deficit was down to 78-77, and the Rockets carried that momentum into the fourth with a 15-4 run.
NOTES: Despite taking 44.7 percent of his shots from the field within three feet of the rim, Magic G Victor Oladipo is averaging just 4.3 free throw attempts per game. By contrast, Rockets G James Harden is averaging 9.8 foul shots while attempting only 31.0 percent of his shots from the floor inside three feet. Oladipo could learn a thing or two watching Harden ply his craft, Magic coach James Borrego said. “I encourage Vic to watch all the greats, and Harden is one of the best,” Borrego said. … Rockets G Patrick Beverley started despite battling right elbow bursitis. His primary backup, Jason Terry, is slowed by a sore hamstring, which opens the door for playing time for Pablo Prigioni. “I’ve just got to go ahead and do it,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of playing Prigioni.