When: December 14, 2015; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: CBS 880 AM
The Nets continue their homestand tonight at Barclays against the visiting upstart Orlando Magic, who have lost three of their last four games but have been one of the Eastern Conference’s biggest surprises so far
Brooklyn lost on Saturday night to the Los Angeles Clippers in a strange game that saw the Nets down 18 early in the fourth quarter only to come back within a single basket a few minutes later behind a scoring spurt by none other than Andrea Bargnani. But, the Nets couldn’t get the stops they needed down the stretch as they ended up losing 105-100. Blake Griffin, with Bargnani covering him instead of Brook Lopez, drilled two big jumpers to hold off the surging Nets.
On the other hand, Orlando, in the first year of Scott Skiles’ tenure, were crushed 111-76 at home by the Cavaliers on Friday in the Magic’s weakest performance of the young season. That was Orlando’s first game back at Amway Center after a five-game Western Conference trip in which they went 3-2. Led by forwards Tobias Harris (a Long Island native) and Nikola Vucevic, the Magic aren’t likely to kill you from three-point range but have some knockdown shooters and have been helped by a vastly improved Elfrid Payton at the point guard position.
The Magic, as of right now before tonight’s games, are just one game out of a East playoff spot while the Nets are six out. Orlando, according to Orlando Sentinel Magic beat writer Josh Robbins, is 0-6 in Barclays since the arena opened in the 2012-13 season.
Probable lineups
ORL- Elfrid Payton (PG), Evan Fournier (SG), Tobias Harris (SF), Channing Frye (PF), Nikola Vucevic (C)
BKN- Jarrett Jack (PG), Bojan Bogdanovic (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
The Nets have still won six of their last eight games, so with them being in the middle of a big homestand, each game is vital. The Magic are a good young team that has played well this year, so Brooklyn will need to play a strong game to get the win tonight. Also, Orlando center Nikola Vucevic always seems to have big games against the Nets, so Brook Lopez has to shut him down.
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