Magic at Nets
THE STORY: The Orlando Magic travel to New Jersey for the second of three meetings this season with the Nets on Wednesday. The Magic have won eight straight and 15 of the last 18 games with the Nets. Orlando cruised to a 94-78 victory over New Jersey in the season series opener Dec. 29. The Magic are playing the first game of a back-to-back and will travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks on Thursday. This is New Jersey’s final contest before the All-Star break.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SunSports (Orlando), YES (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (21-12): Orlando has won five of its last six games and is 9-3 in February. Dwight Howard recorded his East-leading 26th double-double of the season in Monday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The center is averaging 20.4 points, 14.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in his last seven games against the Nets. Guard Jason Richardson has missed the last two games with a chest virus, but should return for Wednesday’s contest. He’s averaging 12.2 points per game.
ABOUT THE NETS (10-24): Center Brook Lopez made his season debut with nine points in 22 minutes on Sunday as the Nets dropped their sixth straight at home to the Bucks. Coach Avery Johnson rested Lopez on Monday to get him ready for a physical matchup with Howard. Deron Williams scored a season-high 38 points in Lopez’s absence to lead New Jersey to a 100-92 victory over the Knicks. Williams has scored 25 points or more in six straight contests.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Nets haven’t dropped seven in a row at home since a 14-game slide Jan. 29-March 22, 2010.
2. The Nets are second in the NBA with 300 made three-pointers. New Jersey is shooting .356 (300-842) from downtown.
3. The Magic rank last in the league in free-throw percentage (.656) and fast break points per game (7.97).