The Magic knew Sunday’s road game at Houston already would be an uphill battle without forward Paolo Banchero (left groin strain) in a meeting between two squads riding three-game winning streaks.

Then hours before tip-off, Orlando learned it would also be without guard Jalen Suggs, who was ruled out due to a sore right groin.

But without two of its key players, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad still fought back and forth with the Rockets during a matchup that required more than 48 minutes of basketball inside Toyota Center.

Ultimately, Houston pulled away late for a 117-113 victory over Orlando in the extra period behind Kevin Durant’s game-high 35 points and crucial shotmaking down the stretch.

“That game came down to the small details,” Mosley said after the loss. “The game was in the margins. You miss 9 free throws, a couple missed defensive assignments down the stretch that allowed them to get a couple easy baskets, and then the rebounding.

“We know what type of team that is,” he added. “They had a lot of extra possessions and, in a game like this, you’ve got to make sure you secure those rebounds down the stretch.”

Despite a combined 55 points from Franz Wagner (29) and Desmond Bane (26), the Magic were outscored 15-11 in the five extra minutes needed to determine a winner. Houston (9-3) outrebounded Orlando 60-38.

“Hopefully we learn from those moments and become better because of it,” Bane said about Orlando’s lack of execution down the stretch.

The Magic (7-7) return to Kia Center to open a three-game homestand that starts Tuesday against the Warriors.

Starting 5

Without Banchero and Suggs, Mosley inserted Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva into the starting lineup alongside Wagner,  Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. against the Rockets.

Carter (15 points) and da Silva each provided a pair of triples and stout defense on the other end. While da Silva recorded 3 steals, Carter blocked 4 shots.

The Orlando center, however, found himself in foul trouble when he picked up his fifth less than halfway through the final frame. Carter eventually fouled out late in the extra period.

Wagner had the difficult assignment of defending Durant and found himself switching onto Houston center Alperen Sengun (30 points), but was able to add 2 steals to his 4 assists on the other end. Still, Wagner shot 3 for 8 from 3-point range.

“They’ve got guys that can just figure out ways to go get it,” Mosley said about Houston’s top scorers. “One-on-one is a defensive battle vs. them. Our guys took pride in it.”

Bane’s second 3-pointer at the 9:06 mark of the fourth quarter put Orlando ahead by 11 points when the Magic guard scored seven points straight on his own. Although Bane made all six of free throw attempts, he shot 2 for 7 from distance.

Help from Howard

With Black and da Silva starting, the Magic bench lacked offensive firepower. Third-year pro Jett Howard worked hard to make an impact in relief.

Howard provided 2 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block with a triple in 20 minutes off the bench.

“He was just trying to make the right play,” Mosley said about Howard.

The Rockets used just three players off their bench and two of them — Reed Sheppard (16 points) and Aaron Holiday (10) — did most of the scoring.

Despite Howard’s efforts, Houston’s bench outscored Orlando’s 29-12 when veteran guard Tyus Jones was held scoreless for a seventh consecutive contest.

Free points

Black missed a free throw that would have given Orlando a 3-point lead instead of a 2-point lead with 1.7 seconds left in regulation. That’s when Sengun was able to tie the game at 102 and send the contest to overtime.

It was part of a larger problem for the Magic as they shot 25 for 34 at the charity stripe.  In regulation, Orlando missed 7 free throws and later missed 2 in the extra period. Houston was more accurate at the line, shooting 25 for 29.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com