The Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic meet Wednesday in NBA action at the Amway Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Houston Rockets Betting Preview 

The Houston Rockets are coming off 22 wins and now begin the Ime Udoka era. The Rockets traded away K.J. Martin, but they made some solid moves by bringing in Jeff Green, Dillon Brooks, Reggie Bullock and Fred VanVleet. The Rockets also drafted Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore in the first round. When you add all that talent and production to Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets have sped up the rebuilding process and quietly look like a team that could compete for a playoff spot in the West. Maybe they’re still a year or a player away, but the Rockets are turning the corner fast and at the very least will be fun to watch this season.

Orlando Magic Betting Preview 

The Magic won 34 games last year and enter the third season under coach Jamahl Mosley. The Magic kept their core from last year intact while drafting Anthony Black and Jett Howard in the first round. The Magic are also giving dunk champion Mac McClung a shot while adding veteran Joe Ingles. The Magic are hoping Paolo Banchero can build on what was a great rookie season, while Markelle Fultz and others continue to get better. The Magic are still an extremely young roster with only one player 30 years old or older, and they could still use a game changer, but there’s potential here, and they improved their win total last year by 12 wins. A similar jump this season, and the Magic are in the playoffs. We’ll see.

Randy’s Pick

The Magic are making steps in the right direction and should be better than they’ve been in past years, but we can say the same about the Rockets. In fact, with the additions of Brooks, Bullock and VanVleet along with the young talent they already had, I don’t think it’s crazy to say the Rockets are the better team here. We’re getting free points with arguably the better team. I don’t care that the game is in Orlando. Give me the Rockets and the free points.