Magic fall short in overtime at Rockets

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Nov 16, 2025

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The Orlando Magic knew Sunday’s road game at Houston would be an uphill battle without Paolo Banchero (left groin strain) in a meeting between two squads riding three-game winning streaks.

Then, hours before tip-off, Orlando learned it would also be without Jalen Suggs, who was ruled out due to a sore right groin.

But without two of its key players, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad still fought back and forth with the Rockets during a matchup that required more than 48 minutes of basketball inside Toyota Center.

Ultimately, Houston pulled away late away, 117-113, over Orlando in the extra period behind Kevin Durant’s game-high 35 points and crucial shotmaking down the stretch.

“That game came down to the small details,” Mosley said after the loss. “The game was in the margins. You miss nine free throws, a couple missed defensive assignments down the stretch that allowed them to get a couple easy baskets, and then the rebounding.

“We know what type of team that is,” he added. “They had a lot of extra possessions and in a game like this, you’ve got to make sure you secure those rebounds down the stretch.”

Despite a combined 55 points from Franz Wagner (29) and Desmond Bane (26), the Magic were outscored 15-11 in the five extra minutes needed to determine a winner. Houston (9-3) outrebounded Orlando 60-38.

“Hopefully we learn from those moments and become better because of it,” Bane said about Orlando’s lack of execution down the stretch.

The Magic (7-7) return to Kia Center to open a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.

Starting 5

Without Banchero and Suggs, Mosley inserted Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva into the starting lineup alongside Wagner, Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. against the Rockets.

Carter (15 points) and da Silva both provided a pair of triples and stout defense on the other end. Da Silva recorded three steals and Carter blocked four shots from Houston.

Carter, however, found himself in foul trouble when he picked up his fifth foul less than halfway through the final frame. He eventually fouled out late in the extra period.

Wagner had the difficult assignment of defending Durant and found himself switching onto Houston center Alperen Sengun (30 points), but was able to add two steals to his four assists on the other end. Still, Wagner shot 3 for 8 from 3-point range.

“They’ve got guys that can just figure out ways to go get it,” Mosley said about Houston’s top scorers. “One-on-one is a defensive battle vs. them. Our guys took pride in it.”

Bane’s second 3-pointer at the 9:06 mark of the fourth quarter put Orlando ahead by 11 points when the Magic guard scored seven points straight on his own. Although Bane made all six of his free throw attempts, he shot 2 for 7 from distance.

Help from Howard

With Black and da Silva starting, the Magic bench lacked offensive firepower. Third-year pro Jett Howard worked hard to make an impact in relief.

Howard provided two rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block with a triple in 20 minutes off the bench.

“He was just trying to make the right play,” Mosley said about Howard.

The Rockets only used three players off their bench and two of them — Reed Sheppard (16 points) and Aaron Holiday (10) — did most of the scoring.

Despite Howard’s efforts, Houston’s bench outscored Orlando’s 29-12 when veteran guard Tyus Jones was held scoreless for a seventh consecutive contest.

Free points

Black missed a free throw that would have given Orlando a 3-point lead instead of a 2-point lead with 1.7 seconds left in regulation. That’s when Sengun was able to tie the game at 102 and send the contest to overtime.

It was part of a larger problem for the Magic when they shot 25 for 34 at the charity stripe throughout the night. In regulation, Orlando missed seven free throws and later missed two in the extra period. In a four-point loss, the Magic missed 9 total.

Houston was more accurate at the line when it shot 25 for 29, missing just four overall.