The Houston Rockets start the day as the No. 3 seed in the West, but they’ve become an afterthought in the title contender conversation. Tonight they visit an Orlando Magic team that knows all about struggling to meet lofty expectations.
Orlando is coming off a strong west coast road trip, but the hosts can’t compete with Houston’s top-end talent. My Rockets vs. Magic predictions signal another impressive stat line for Alperen Sengun.
Get the lowdown on this February 26 battle with my free NBA picks and betting angles.
Rockets vs Magic prediction
Rockets vs Magic best bet: Alperen Sengun Over 15.5 rebounds + assists (+102)
The Houston Rockets came into this season asking a lot of Alperen Sengun in a do-it-all role, and the burden keeps growing, with Steven Adams joining Fred VanVleet on the sidelines and Amen Thompson also on the injury report.
Sengun has nailed this combo Over in back-to-back contests, including a triple-double against the Kings last time out, and he gave the Orlando Magic fits in November with a 30-12-8 effort.
Even if Thompson plays, Sengun is set to shine. I’m buying into his 9.2 RPG this year and a stretch of 7+ dimes in three of his past four contests.
Rockets vs Magic same-game parlay
Houston hits another level when Jabari Smith Jr. is knocking down shots, and his points prop Over fits neatly with big-time playmaking from Sengun. Smith Jr. has gone past this O/U number in four of his last five games.
I’ll also ride with the Rockets moneyline, with the visitors covering the spread in three straight outings and winning four in a row against the Magic.
Rockets vs Magic SGP
- Alperen Sengun Over 15.5 rebounds + assists
- Jabari Smith Jr. Over 14.5 points
- Rockets moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Hustle kings
Neither team will mind a scrappy rock fight here. Tari Eason could see a spike in minutes given the Rockets’ injury question marks on the wing, and he’s had double-digit boards in two of his past three contests.
Anthony Black is another active presence who thrives on the defensive end. He’s had eight blocks in his last nine games, and he’s finished with 4+ rebounds four times this month.
Rockets vs Magic SGP
- Tari Eason Over 6.5 rebounds
- Tari Eason Over 1.5 steals
- Anthony Black Over 3.5 rebounds
- Anthony Black Over 0.5 blocks
Rockets vs Magic odds
- Spread: Rockets -3 | Magic +3
- Moneyline: Rockets -148 | Magic +126
- Over/Under: Over 215.5 | Under 215.5
Rockets vs Magic betting trend to know
The Magic are 11-19 ATS after a win this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Magic.
How to watch Rockets vs Magic
| Location | Kia Center, Orlando, FL |
| Date | Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
Rockets vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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