Tag: Caleb Houstan

Magic: Caleb Houstan scored 18 points in latest G League assignment

Houstan put up another double-digit-scoring performance Saturday on assignment in the G League with Lakeland.

Orlando Magic rookie Caleb Houstan put up another double-digit-scoring performance Saturday on assignment in the G League with the Lakeland Magic.

Houstan produced 18 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 102-101 loss on the road to the Cleveland Charge. He finished by shooting 5-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, in 31 minutes of work.

The 32nd pick had one of his best shooting displays in the G League in the contest. He even hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute to break a 98-98 tie, but the Magic did not score again and fell by one point.

Houstan is averaging 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 40% shooting from the field in nine games with Lakeland. He has scored in double figures in all but one game and had his best outing on Jan. 22: 25 points, three rebounds and one assist.

With playing time at a premium in Orlando, the Magic have sent Houstan to Lakeland on a few occasions to log consistent playing time. He views the assignments as a great opportunity to develop on the court and stay ready in Orlando.

Houstan has brought tremendous energy and effort to the second unit during his limited run in Orlando and has found success making impact plays. With some more development, Houstan could emerge as a key player off the bench in the future.

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Magic rookie Caleb Houstan credits G League for staying ready to play

Houstan is staying ready to play in Orlando, and has helped contribute to some recent key wins by the team.

Caleb Houstan has played sparingly with the Orlando Magic this season and recently had a stint in the G League to get consistent playing time on the court.

He believes those minutes have helped him stay ready to contribute.

Houstan logged seven appearances with the Lakeland Magic from Jan. 17-28 with playing time at a premium in Orlando. He responded by averaging 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and two assists on 41.1% shooting from the field.

The 32nd pick scored in double figures six times, including four 20-point games. He produced perhaps his best game on Jan. 22: 25 points, three rebounds and one assist.

“It is good just to get in more reps in NBA systems,” Houstan told Rookie Wire. “They run the same system down there so just having those systems that are the same and getting 30 minutes a game is great to go through all of those actions and reads.”

Houstan is averaging 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 33 games with Orlando. He has logged only three appearances this month and hasn’t played rotation minutes since Jan. 5, but he has given the team a strong lift in those outings, which each resulted in wins.

He produced eight points on Feb. 5 versus Charlotte and had seven points four nights later against Denver. On Monday, he chipped in five points against Chicago, including a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to help the Magic maintain their lead.

Players often perform well knowing exactly when they are going to see the court and how many minutes they may see on a given night. The Magic have used Houstan sporadically, which can be a difficult adjustment to make a first-year player.

Houstan, though, is staying ready for his opportunities.

“You just have to be ready and stay ready,” Houstan said. “We’re always doing workouts and playing 3-on-3. The games in the G League helped a lot, too. I’m just staying ready and having that mindset that you’re going to play every game so that way you’re always ready to go.”

Said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley:

He stays ready. Obviously, his shot-making ability is one thing we can lean on him for but the other side of it is his offensive rebounding; he is tenacious. Our coaches do a great job working with him on it every day because it is something we want to have pride in. He does a great job of that and then his defensive awareness and being in the right spot.

Coming into the season, the Magic viewed Houstan as a player that can space the floor and defend. He is shooting 38.6% from 3-point range and seems to have found his sweet spot on the court: He is converting 51.6% of his 31 attempts from the corner.

He has brought tremendous energy and effort to the second unit during his appearances and has found success crashing the offensive glass, averaging 1.6 per 36 minutes.

It is something Houstan takes pride in.

“I think just being aggressive in that aspect,” Houstan said. “Just crashing a lot so it kind of stops their defensive transition. It also gets you easy buckets that are unselfish. I just try to make an impact in that way with energy and stuff like that.”

The Magic are among the teams in contention for the play-in race at this point of the season. They are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference and moved within three games of Toronto in 10th place with their win on Monday.

With 24 games left entering play on Tuesday versus the Raptors, the minutes Houstan and the rest of the team are playing will be rather meaningful. Those high-pressure situations will prove pivotal and Houstan will be ready for whatever is asked of him.

“I really just try to impact the game as much as I can,” Houstan said. “Crash the glass, cut, find an open window for 3s and just try to help as much as I can.”

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Magic rookie Caleb Houstan puts up 15 points on G League assignment

Houstan is averaging 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in three games with Lakeland.

Orlando Magic rookie Caleb Houstan put up another double-digit-scoring effort Saturday on assignment in the G League to help lead the Lakeland Magic to a win over the host Maine Celtics.

Houstan produced 15 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal in the 117-111 win. He went 4-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes of action off the bench in his third game with Lakeland.

The 32nd pick turned in another strong outing with Lakeland, though struggled a bit to shoot. The team is more concerned with getting Houstan consistent playing time, though, and continuing the transition to the next level.

Houstan is averaging 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 44.1% shooting from the field with Lakeland. He produced 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in his debut on Tuesday, and followed with 14 points on Thursday.

The team is hopeful that playing time for Houstan with Lakeland can help him continue to adjust to different coverages and learn where to be on the floor on both ends of the court. He has drawn praise for handling the assignment with professionalism.

Houstan is taking the assignment in stride and is willing to work through it in order to improve on the court. He has produced in some spot minutes throughout the season, and will be ready for when the next time his name is called.

Lakeland returns to action on Sunday again in Maine.

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Magic: Caleb Houstan staying professional through G League assignment

Houstan is averaging 19 points, six rebounds and two assists in two games with Lakeland in the G League.

Orlando Magic rookie Caleb Houstan has often drawn praise this season for his maturity and professionalism, and the 20-year-old is showing that now in the G League.

With playing time at a minimum and the Magic at a lull in the schedule, the team assigned Houstan to Lakeland for two road games against the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He produced a team-high 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block on Tuesday in a win.

He followed with another strong outing on Thursday.

Houstan produced 14 points, three rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range in the 125-121 win. He hit a key 3-pointer to put the Magic up by three points with 49.5 seconds left to play to seal the win and two-game sweep.

The 32nd pick was also joined by two-way player Kevon Harris and Jonathan Isaac, who is returning from a knee injury. Harris scored a team-high 26 points and nine rebounds, and Isaac added 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks in his third game.

The team is hopeful that playing time for Houstan with Lakeland can help him continue to adjust to different coverages and learn where to be on the floor on both ends of the court. It is also a great opportunity for him to log consistent minutes and stay ready.

“He has done a fantastic job of staying professional and playing his minutes when needed,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of Houstan on Wednesday. “The growth of what the coaches are asking of him here (is showing up) down there.”

With two games under his belt with Lakeland, the team will monitor him moving forward and make a decision on how long he will play in the G League. Orlando, which plays on Friday, had the last four days off, which influenced the decision to send Houstan to Lakeland.

Houstan is taking the assignment in stride and is willing to work through it in order to improve on the court. He has produced in some spot minutes throughout the season, and will be ready for when the next time his name is called.

Lakeland returns to action on Saturday in Maine.

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Magic rookie Caleb Houstan finishes with 24 points in G League debut

Houstan put up a 20-point outing on Tuesday in the G League to lead Lakeland to a win over Sioux Falls.

Orlando Magic rookie Caleb Houstan put up a 20-point outing Tuesday on assignment in the NBA G League to lead the Lakeland Magic to a win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Houstan produced a team-high 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot in the 104-100 victory on the road. He went 6-of-14 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in 31 minutes off the bench in his first game with Lakeland.

The 32nd pick added a couple of 3-pointers in the contest and had some clutch plays down the stretch. He hauled in a key rebound late that led to a 3-pointer and knocked down two free throws with 13 seconds left to put the Magic up by five and seal the win.

Houstan is averaging four points and 2.3 rebounds in 30 games with Orlando on 36.4% shooting from 3-point range on the season. He has played sparingly of late with the roster healthier and was a healthy scratch from the lineup in Orlando’s last two games.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley hinted last month that Houstan could eventually see time in the G League. The minutes with Lakeland will give him the opportunity to see consistent playing time and continue to develop in his first season.

The 20-year-old has drawn high praise throughout the season for his work ethic and professionalism. He is taking the assignment in stride and is willing to spend time in the G League.

Lakeland returns to action on Thursday once again with Sioux Falls.

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Magic rookie Caleb Houstan drawing high praise for shooting, rebounding

Houstan finished in double figures for only the second time on Wednesday in a win over the Thunder.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Down several players, the Orlando Magic relied on a total team effort on Wednesday to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder and continue a recent resurgence in the standings.

No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero led the way with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Gary Harris and Terrance Ross each added 18 points in the 126-115 win. In all, eight players scored in double figures, which tied a team record for a single game.

“I think our guys were great,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Their ability to share the basketball, understanding what we’ve talked about the whole time — attack the paint, spray out, find the open man and step into your shot with confidence.”

The Magic were down eight players: Bol Bol (health and safety protocol), Kevon Harris (suspension), Jonathan Isaac (knee), Chuma Okeke (knee), Admiral Schofield (suspension), Jalen Suggs (ankle) and Franz and Moe Wagner (suspension).

That left nine players available to play in the contest.

With several starters out, Mosley and the Magic opted to start Caleb Houstan. The rookie had started just once this season prior to Wednesday, and he was a healthy scratch from the lineup seven times last month. But, with the Magic in need of a spark, Houstan stepped in and recorded 11 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal for his second game scoring in double figures.

Mosley was proud of the minutes Houstan gave the team.

He is a professional with the way he approaches the game, the way he approaches his craft — first one in, last one out, studying film. He just studies the pace of everything. He knows where he is supposed to be offensively, as well as defensively.

Houstan also hit three 3s and hauled in three offensive rebounds in 28 minutes of work. He was active on defense and gave the team a tremendous spark. He earned high praise from Banchero afterward.

I don’t know what the stats are, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he leads us in offensive rebounds. He might not lead us but I bet you if you did like a per-minute offensive rebound, I’m willing to bet he is No. 1. I give a lot of credit to him for just always crashing (the glass).

Though high praise, Banchero stretched it a little bit too much.

Houstan is averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 26 appearances this season. He is 10th on the team in total offensive rebounds (20) and ninth with 1.5 offensive rebounds per-36 minutes this season. His three boards versus the Thunder tied a season high.

Still, the energy and effort given by Houstan on a given night haven’t gone unnoticed. The extra possessions created by his activity proved very beneficial over the Thunder and enabled the group to post its ninth win in 14 games.

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Jamahl Mosley: Caleb Houstan could see time in the G League

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley hinted Houstan could see some time in the G League with Lakeland.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley on Friday hinted rookie Caleb Houstan could see some time in the NBA G League with the Lakeland Magic.

Houstan has made 22 appearances with the Magic this season but has played sparingly for much of December. He logged five minutes on Friday in a 20-point win over the San Antonio Spurs, but he was a healthy scratch from the lineup over the previous seven games.

The 32nd pick is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds on 35.6% shooting from 3-point range on the season. With playing time at a premium now that the group is healthier, Mosley said the team has discussed sending him to Lakeland.

He is so professional. He is so about all of the right things. He is the first one in, last one out; working on days off. He is taking on strides and understands exactly what it’s like to be a rookie in this league. There have been discussions of (sending him to Lakeland) but, obviously, we’ll look at it more going forward.

The team has dealt with numerous injuries this season. Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke, Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner have missed time. Several of those players have returned, creating a logjam for playing time.

As the odd man out, Houstan continues to make the best of the situation as Mosley mentioned. The coaching staff will get Houstan into game situations when it can, but the 19-year-old may see some time in Lakeland.

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Magic rookie Caleb Houstan staying ready to make winning plays

Houstan has been in and out of the rotation to start the season but is staying ready to contribute when his number is called.

Caleb Houstan has been in and out of the rotation to start the season with the Orlando Magic but the 32nd pick is staying ready to contribute when his number is called.

Houstan, in 11 appearances, is averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game on 32% shooting from 3-point range. He has been a healthy scratch four times this season but has seen a larger role of late with the Magic down several players.

The 19-year-old is posting five points and three rebounds on 45.4% shooting from beyond the arc in 20.5 minutes over his last four appearances. His best game of the season came on Nov. 9 in a win over the Dallas Mavericks: Eight points, two rebounds and one assist.

He wants to come into games and make a strong impact.

Just giving the starters and the guys that play a lot of minutes a quick breather and be able to come in and make winning plays. Try to make the right play, whether that’s making a shot, spacing the floor or getting a rebound defensively. Just try and do anything I can to help impact the game.

His stats certainly don’t jump off of the page, but Houstan understands his role and doesn’t try to force things. He plays within himself and seemingly makes the right plays more often than not, which has given the team a boost off the bench.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley likes what he brings to the second unit.

He stays ready. He understands what his role is when he steps in there to be a great positional defender, to knock down shots when he is open and, obviously, just be in the right spot with the right spacing both offensively and defensively.

Houstan was a full-time starter as a freshman last season at Michigan. The adjustment from starting to coming off of the bench is a bit different, but the 6-foot-8 forward had prior experience doing so as a freshman at the Montverde Academy.

Of course, the adjustment from college to the NBA is much different.

The biggest learning curve for first-year players often involves the pace of the game and physicality against better competition. Houstan is picking that up the more he plays in the early going this season as the game is beginning to slow down for him.

I think just being able to read things defensively and offensively a little bit quicker as the games go by. I’m in the gym practicing and working out. I’m definitely getting more used to things. It is still going to take some time but, for sure, (the game is slowing down).

Orlando has dealt with several injuries to begin the season. Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Jonathan Isaac and Mo Wagner have yet to play this season and Cole Anthony and Paolo Banchero are the latest players to go down. They have missed 11 games and four games, respectively.

With injuries beginning to pile up in Orlando, Houstan could continue to see a larger role moving forward. He will certainly be staying ready for those opportunities.

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Caleb Houstan emerging as all-around player for Magic in preseason

Houstan is impressing not only with his shooting, but in several other areas on the court in the early going for the Magic.

When the Orlando Magic opened training camp, head coach Jamahl Mosley said rookie Caleb Houstan would begin as a floor spacer and positional defender to start the season.

Houstan is proving to be more than that in the early going.

The 32nd pick produced his best game of the preseason on Tuesday with 13 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in a win against the Memphis Grizzlies. He went 5-of-6 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, in 19 minutes off the bench.

He worked, as most rookies do, throughout much of the offseason on adjusting to the longer 3-point line in the NBA. He shot 35.5% from beyond the arc last season at Michigan, which is a good percentage, but he wanted to improve that and get better this year.

Terrence Ross can see that work paying off.

He had a couple of big-time offensive rebounds last game and some really good spot-up 3-point shots. He is active on defense and that is always good to see. I’ve been shooting with him every day — that boy can shoot. A lot of guys struggle with that shot coming into the league, the college 3 compared to the NBA 3 a little bit but he has come a long way.

The shooting has been evident throughout training camp. He previously earned high praise from Cole Anthony and Ross is the latest to take notice. It has resulted in the team having confidence in him to knock down those shots.

The recipe for success, Houstan said, is quite simple.

I just try to come in every day, work hard and just try to find my spots and try to get open. It is really them making the plays and them just finding me so I just try to hit shots and give them the confidence to find me.

Houstan came off the bench and drained some timely 3s for the Magic on Tuesday, but it was more than that ability that stood out to Mosley. The team has raved about his IQ and awareness on the court, and that often results in him being in the right place on both ends.

It is the little things that stand out to Mosley.

He did a great job, not just his on-ball defense, weak side defense and ability to knock down shots, but the thing that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is his ability to crash the glass and his off-ball movement. He does a great job moving without the basketball and that’s what we’re asking our guys to do this year. He did a fantastic job of that.

Houstan knows the upcoming season will present its fair share of challenges as a first-year player. With so many players ahead of him on the depth chart, playing time could be sporadic, but the 19-year-old is prepared to work through any adversity that comes to him.

He is showing what he can bring to the team on a nightly basis through the first four preseason games. If he can do that on a consistent basis, Houstan could soon find himself in the rotation.

Orlando wraps up the preseason on Friday with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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‘He shoots at an elite level’: Caleb Houstan impresses in Magic camp

The Magic have had a limited training camp, but Houstan has impressed the coaching staff and players around him in the early going.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Caleb Houstan and the Orlando Magic have had a limited training camp, but the 32nd pick is already impressing the coaching staff and players in the early going.

The Magic were forced to cancel two days of practice this week due to Hurricane Ian. The situation put Houstan and fellow rookie Paolo Banchero a bit behind schedule, but the two seemingly haven’t missed a beat and have had a smooth transition.

Many of the players on the team linked up over the summer and played pickup games. Houstan used the offseason as an opportunity to work on his game, and the results have shown through the first three days of training camp.

Magic guard Cole Anthony spoke very highly of Houstan.

I think Caleb is going to be awesome. I really am a fan of him. I can see he is in the gym a lot, works hard and is a high-IQ kid. Obviously, he comes from Michigan so that is to be expected. He can really shoot the basketball and is a willing learner and listener; I’ve been able to talk to him a good amount.

He shoots the ball at an elite level. He kind of reminds me of Franz (Wagner) when Franz first came in. He moves really well without the basketball, is a high IQ player and he is young, too. I think the kid has a really bright future and is very smart.

The Magic were ecstatic to add Houstan to the roster through the draft. They rave about his basketball IQ and character on and off of the court. The team is certainly headlined by the No. 1 pick in Banchero but it was just as excited Houstan was available at 32.

Teams often tinker with lineups in training camp to see what combinations work. The Magic are very much trying out different looks up and down the lineup, and Houstan has seemingly impressed each time he steps onto the court.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley explained how Houstan has stood out.

The great part about Caleb is that he has got a very high basketball IQ and an unbelievable work ethic. He finds himself in the right spacing on offense and, defensively, finds himself in the right spots. Those are two very good qualities that he possesses. The role we’re going to ask of him is to be that knockdown shooter, positional defender and just make the simple and right plays.

Houstan knows the upcoming season will present its fair share of challenges as a first-year player. With so many players ahead of him on the depth chart, playing time could be sporadic, but the 19-year-old is prepared to work through any adversity that comes to him.

I just try to come in every day and get better, work hard and listen to the coaches as well as the players and just kind of vibe with the teammates and stuff like that. It has been real good to be around the guys and have them embrace me, for sure.

Orlando has a few more practices before tipping off its preseason schedule Monday in Memphis. The upcoming slate of games could be a great chance for Houstan to make a name for himself, but it seems as though he has already started doing that.

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