Magic 139, Nets 105
ORLANDO -- Reserve forward Andrew Nicholson had a career-high 24 points and seven teammates also scored in double figures to lead the Orlando Magic to an easy 139-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday night.
The Magic, who beat the Chicago Bulls by 21 points on Saturday, won back-to-back games for the first time since early February. The Nets (21-52) lost their second consecutive game after falling Monday night in Miami.
It was the most points scored by the Magic (31-43) this season, eclipsing the 136 points they scored in a double-overtime loss to Oklahoma City.
Aaron Gordon scored 20 points. Dewayne Dedmon had 15 points. Point guard Elfrid Payton had 11 points and 12 assists in 26 minutes. Guard Even Fournier had 15 points and hit three of his four 3-point attempts. Reserve center Jason Smith had 14 points and guard Brandon Jennings scored 11 points with six assists. Rookie Mario Hezonja had 10 points.
The Nets were led by forward Thomas Robinson, who got his second start of the season, with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Wayne Ellington had 12 points. Point guard Shane Larkin had 10 points. Sean Kilpatrick and Markel Brown each scored 11 points.
The Nets never seriously challenged after the first quarter.
The Magic led by 30 points going into the fourth quarter and were shooting 63.2 percent from the field. They led by as many as 36 points in the third period.
The Nets came into the game ranked last in the NBA in defensive field-goal percentage (.475) and were ranked 28th in defensive efficiency. They offered little resistance Tuesday.
The Nets, who trailed by 28 points at halftime, changed their starting lineup in the second half. Only point guard Shane Larkin and forward Thomas Robinson started both halves. Among those benched was starting center Brook Lopez, who finished with five points and never played in the second half.
The Magic led, 73-45, at halftime after blistering the Nets with a season-high 41 points in the second period. Gordon made all six of his shots in the first quarter for 13 points. Nicholson made all six of his shots in the second quarter for 14 points.
The Magic led by as many 30 points in the second period and shot 66 percent (31 of 47 shots) in the first half. The Nets got 10 points in the first half from Larkin, who played his high school basketball just a few miles from the Amway Center.
The Magic took the lead with a 7-0 run early in the first quarter and never were seriously challenged.
NOTES: Magic C Nikola Vucevic, who missed his 13th consecutive game with a strained groin, expects to return Thursday against Indiana. The Magic were 3-9 without Vucevic going into Tuesday night. ... Magic G Victor Oladipo returned after missing two games with a sore right wrist. ... The Magic beat the Nets in their previous three meetings this season by an average of 12 points. The Nets won all three games against the Magic last season. ... Rich DeVos, who bought the Magic in 1991, was inducted into Orlando Magic Hall of Fame. He joined earlier inductees C Shaquille O'Neal, team executive Pat Williams and Nick Anderson, the team's first draftee (1989). ... Nets PG Shane Larkin, in his fourth game back as a starter, had a mini-cheering section. He played high school basketball in the area and still has plenty of friends here. ... In Brooklyn's early season loss in Orlando, Nets C Brook Lopez had 24 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and three steals. He became one of only four players in history with at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks or more in a game against the Magic in Orlando. The others were Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon.