The last time the Nets (3-5) and Magic (5-3) faced off, just eight days ago, Dwight Howard dominated his matchup with Brook Lopez to the extent that the Nets’ young center has seemingly been put into a tailspin from which he’s yet to recover. Lopez, who looked indecisive and fearful of Howard’s ability to block shots last time out, missed his first 13 shots of that game, finishing just 3-of-17 from the field. Including that game and the three since then, Lopez has averaged just 10.5 points per game on 15-of-56 shooting (26.8 percent), and the Nets are 1-3 in that span. Howard, meanwhile, scored 30 points on 9-of-13 shooting and grabbed 16 rebounds in the last meeting, a 105-90 Magic win in Orlando. New Jersey will hope to slow Howard down, either through an improved effort from Lopez or a whole lot of fouling, when the teams face off in Newark tonight.
The Nets snapped a five-game losing streak on Wednesday by beating the Cavaliers in Cleveland on the second half of a home-and-home set. Impressive showings from Devin Harris, Kris Humphries and Anthony Morrow helped off set the injury-related absences of Troy Murphy (foot) and Terrence Williams (abdominal). Murphy should be back against Orlando after fully participating in a scrimmage at Friday’s practice. Williams, however, was on the sidelines again and could miss his third straight game.
Orlando jumped out to a 5-1 start this season but has dropped its last two games, both at home, to Utah on Wednesday and Toronto last night. The Magic did not lose back-to-back home games all of last season, albeit in a different arena than the one it calls home this season. Friday’s loss to the 2-7 Raptors should have Orlando fired up tonight, as Toronto was able to win despite having three of its rotation players – Linas Kleiza, Leandro Barbosa and David Andersen – unavailable due to injury and Orlando’s 53-percent shooting night. Howard played 44 minutes and scored 25 points in the losing effort.
Orlando Magic (5-3) Projected Starting Lineup
- PG Jameer Nelson: 15.3 ppg, 6.2 apg, .478 fg%
- SG Vince Carter: 15.0 ppg, 1.1 spg, .505 fg%
- SF Quentin Richardson: 5.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .283 fg%
- PF Rashard Lewis: 10.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .379 fg%
- C Dwight Howard: 22.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.0 bpg, .589 fg%
New Jersey Nets (3-5) Projected Starting Lineup
- PG Devin Harris: 18.0 ppg, 6.6 apg, 1.1 spg
- SG Anthony Morrow: 11.8 ppg, .455 fg%, .410 3p%
- SF Travis Outlaw: 10.4 ppg, .441 fg%, .500 3p%
- PF Troy Murphy: 5.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .286 fg%
- C Brook Lopez: 16.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .381 fg%