Getty Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Orlando Magic will host the Houston Rockets at the Amway Center in Orlando on Octover 25 as the NBA returns to action.
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The game will be televised locally on Space City Home Network (Rockets markets) and Bally Sports Florida (Magic markets), but if you don’t have cable, don’t have those channels or you live out of market, you can watch a live stream for free on FuboTV, DirecTV Stream or Amazon Prime.
Here’s how:
Rockets vs Magic Live Stream Guide
In-Market & Out-of-Market Viewers: FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of Space City Home Network, Bally Sports Florida (local markets), NBA League Pass (includes every out-of-market game) and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV.
Local sports networks are included in the main bundle, while NBA League Pass is a separate add-on, but any packages and add-ons can be included in your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Rockets vs Magic live on the FuboTV app or FuboTV website.
Compatible devices for the FuboTV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
In-Market Viewers: DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” Space City Home Network and Bally Sports Florida (local markets) are included in “Choice” and up, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Rockets vs Magic live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Out-of-Market Viewers: Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch every out-of-market NBA game via NBA League Pass on Prime Channels. You can try both Amazon Prime and the NBA League Pass channel at no cost with a free trial:
NBA League Pass on Amazon Prime
Once you’re signed up for the Prime League Pass Channel, you can watch the Rockets vs Magic live on the Amazon Video app or Amazon website.
Compatible devices for the Amazon Video app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Rockets vs Magic Preview
The Rockets have a new head leader in former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. The hope is that the defensive-minded Udoka can elevate a team that had second-worst record in the NBA last season (22-60). Houston finished 28th in both points scored (110.7) and points against (118.6) last season.
Houston made several key additions in the offseason. It added Fred VanVleet and forward Dillon Brooks this offseason. The Rockets also nabbed playmaking guard Amen Thompson with the fourth overall pick.
VanVleet, Brooks, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and center Alperen Sengun will be the team’s projected starting lineup this season.
On the other side, Orlando finished with a 34-48 record last year. Orlando scored 111.4 points a game on offense, while allowing 114.0 points per contest on defense. That’s not a winning formula.
The Magic added Anthony Black with the No. 6 overall pick, also selecting Jeff Howard at No. 11. In free agency, they picked up Joe Ingles, Mac McClung, Trevelin Queen and Daeqwon Plowden.
Heading into the season, the projected starting lineup for the Magic includes: guard Markelle Fultz, guard Gary Harris, forward Franz Wagner forward Paolo Banchero and big man Wendell Carter Jr.
Rockets vs Magic: What They’re Saying
“We’re going to compete at a high level,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Every time a team comes in here, it’s going to be a dog fight. We’re not going to beat ourselves. We’re going to focus on attention to detail. We’re going to continue to play for each other and cover for each other. And then, there’s going to be that sense of joy and enthusiasm that we’ll play with every single time we hit the floor.”
“It feels like a new chapter, a new beginning. The way I was just grinding and trying to make my way and then that turned into a championship and an All-Star and all of those things, an incredible seven years that I had in Toronto. But this league and the way it’s going, it’s rare for people to stay on the same team for their whole career. So here I am, going into my eighth season in a completely new environment. It just feels like a fresh start.” — recent Rockets addition Fred VanVleet.