Rockets Vs Magic: Oldfield backs Sengun to 'stuff the stat sheet' in Orlando
Tom Oldfield is backing Alperen Sengun to stuff the stat sheet and has an Alperen Sengun Over 15. 5 rebounds + assists (+102) as his top play for the rockets vs magic matchup Thursday, February 26, tipping off at 7: 30 p. m. ET on Prime Video.
Rockets Vs Magic betting edge: Sengun's workload grows
Oldfield's preview opens with a straightforward prediction: Sengun will deliver another impressive stat line against Orlando. The Houston Rockets enter the game as the No. 3 seed in the West, and Oldfield frames Sengun’s expected output around the growing burden placed on him this season in a do-it-all role.
Injuries and rotations that shape tip-off
Houston’s rotation is thinner for Thursday: Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet are listed as sidelined, and Amen Thompson appears on the injury report, details that Oldfield cites as reasons Sengun’s responsibilities should rise. Those absences help explain the pick and the specific 15. 5 rebounds+assists line.
Stat lines that pushed Oldfield's pick
Oldfield notes recent form to justify the wager: Sengun hit the combo Over in back-to-back contests and posted a triple-double against the Kings in the most recent game. He also gave Orlando trouble in November with a 30-12-8 effort, and Oldfield cites Sengun’s 9. 2 RPG season average plus a recent stretch with 7+ assists in three of his past four contests.
Other prop plays, trends and player notes
Oldfield also highlights supporting angles: Jabari Smith Jr. lifting Houston when he is knocking down shots—Smith Jr. has cleared his points O/U in four of his last five games—and Oldfield says he will back the Rockets moneyline, noting the visitors have covered the spread in three straight outings and have won four in a row against the Magic. Tari Eason could see a minutes uptick given wing questions; he had double-digit boards in two of his past three contests. On the Orlando side, Anthony Black is singled out for defense: eight blocks in his last nine games and 4+ rebounds four times this month. The Magic are 11-19 ATS after a win this season, a trend Oldfield lists among his angles.
Odds, tip time and publication notes
Oldfield places his primary best bet as Alperen Sengun Over 15. 5 rebounds + assists at +102 and highlights the matchup timing: Thursday, February 26, tip-off at 7: 30 p. m. ET on Prime Video. A separate item in the provided material carries the headline "429 Too Many Requests" on a CBS Sports entry, an unrelated page title included alongside the preview content.
About the writer and disclosures
The preview includes a disclosure that the material is not intended for use in MA and an affiliate note that the team may receive compensation if readers sign up through links. Tom Oldfield’s bio appears with the piece: he has spent 20 years covering the Premier League, Champions League, NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB; worked closely with London’s Sportsbeat sports news agency; covered the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship run; and appeared on World Service and The Back Page podcast. He is a graduate of the University of Nottingham, author of biographies on Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Gary Neville and Cesc Fabregas, and co-authors a series of children’s soccer books with his brother Matt. Oldfield describes himself as a regular bettor across top sports leagues, particularly with FanDuel and bet365, and says the best betting advice he has received is to monitor multiple sportsbooks for value.
Next: the Rockets visit Orlando Thursday at 7: 30 p. m. ET on Prime Video; Oldfield’s Sengun Over 15. 5 rebounds + assists (+102) is his headline pick for the matchup.
