Orlando @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 13, 2019 ) Houston 109, Orlando 116

The Houston Rockets look to avoid a letdown after a confidence-building win and get another big performance from red-hot James Harden when they host the struggling Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Harden, who scored 38 points in a 116-109 setback at Orlando on Jan. 13 despite missing 16 of his 17 attempts from 3-point range, recorded 35 points for his 22nd straight with at least 30 as the Rockets edged Toronto 121-119 on Friday.

Houston is 17-6 over the last 23 games, winning four of six since the loss to the Magic, and is expected to have a big addition to the lineup Sunday as All-Star point guard Chris Paul appears ready to go after missing 17 games with a hamstring injury. “It’ll be great,” Harden told the Houston Chronicle of Paul’s return. “We’ve been missing him, missing his leadership, his playmaking ability and his presence on the court.” Orlando has lost five of six contests since the victory over the Rockets and dropped the past two against teams they are fighting for the final playoff spots (Brooklyn, Washington) in the Eastern Conference by a combined eight points. The Magic allowed Washington to drain 15-of-27 from 3-point range and made just 7-of-33 from behind the arc in Friday’s 95-91 loss, causing center Nikola Vucevic to tell reporters: “It’s tough when you can’t get anything going from the outside. We’ve been getting good looks the last few games, we just haven’t made them.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), AT&T Sportsnet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (20-29): Guard Evan Fournier, the team’s third-leading scorer (14.8), was 1-of-10 from the field against Washington and missed all nine of his 3-point attempts in the past two contests. “I have open shots. I should make it, period,” Fournier told reporters. “I’m just very inconsistent this year for some reason. I’m kind of struggling with my shot. So there’s not much to say.” Vucevic is making a strong case for his first All-Star Game appearance, averaging 20.6 points (26.2 the last four contests) along with 11.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (28-20): Forward Kenneth Faried has made quite an impression in his first three games with the club after being signed as a free agent, averaging 15 points and 9.3 rebounds - 21 and 14, respectively, against Toronto. “I love playing basketball, so for me just to be out there with those guys helping out any way I can, rebounding, defense, blocks, just being out there giving my all,” Faried, who averaged 5.1 points in 12 games with Brooklyn earlier this season, told reporters. Harden is averaging 44.4 points in 12 January games, scoring at least 50 three times.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Orlando F Aaron Gordon notched his 12th double-double of the season Friday with 22 points and 11 boards.

2. Houston G Eric Gordon averaged 22 points the last two games, but is just 7-of-25 from behind the arc the past three contests.

3. Magic PG D.J. Augustin had just five points against Washington after averaging 15.6 the previous five games.

PREDICTION: Rockets 116, Magic 102