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As Caleb Houstan plays a bigger role, Magic’s win streak snapped in Memphis

Rookie forward Caleb Houstan is back where he started the season: in the Orlando Magic’s rotation.

Houstan, the No. 32 pick in last year’s draft, has played in the Magic’s last six games, including Tuesday’s 113-108 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies (48-27) at FedExForum.

Averaging 18.3 minutes in the first five, Houstan logged just nine minutes and failed to score Tuesday as Orlando trailed by 23 and cut it to 3 twice in the waning seconds before having its three-game winning streak snapped. Franz Wagner (25 points) and Paolo Banchero (24 points, 11 rebounds) led the Magic (32-44).

“We’ve said from the beginning [that] his basketball IQ is high,” coach Jamahl Mosley said before tipoff. “He does a great job of recognizing where he needs to be offensively and defensively and his ability to space the floor. Guys recognize he can make shots. His ability to create lanes and openings for our guys has been great.”

Before this stretch, Houstan would mainly be in the rotation when other players were injured.

Jalen Suggs being sidelined for four games because of a concussion opened up playing time before he returned in Sunday’s home win over the Brooklyn Nets. Suggs (2 points) shot 1-for-10 in 24 minutes.

But it looks like Houstan will stay in the rotation for the season’s final stretch.

“It gave him an opportunity to step in, finding what he’s capable of doing and being able to see that was important,” Mosley said. “It goes back to that high basketball IQ. He brings a level of calm to that group. He knows he’s going to be in the right space offensively and defensively.”

Houstan’s had periodic stints with the organization’s Lakeland G League affiliate the last couple of months when not in Orlando’s lineup.

This gave Houstan meaningful playing time for his development.

He averaged 16.3 points (36.6% 3-point accuracy on 8.4 attempts) and 29.4 minutes in 12 games with Lakeland before rejoining the NBA team for the end-of-season stretch.

“They run the same type of stuff, so getting those reps, playing like 30-something minutes a game really helps you,” Houstan told the Orlando Sentinel. “It’s very similar. It helps a lot.”

Houstan’s 3-point accuracy has taken a dip over the last couple of weeks, but the Magic are encouraging him to keep letting it fly.

“He’s getting time on the floor, which is very important,” Mosley said. “He’s able to recognize the scenarios where he can get a shot. Obviously, the one thing he’s done very well defensively is being in the right position. That’s been a huge area of growth for him. And his ability to crash the offensive glass. He does a great job there either stopping the break or giving us another possession.”

The No. 13 Magic could’ve drawn even with the 12th-place Indiana Pacers (33-43) with a victory. They play at No. 11 Washington (34-42) on Friday.

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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Source: Berkshire mont

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