GAMENIGHT

Orlando Magic (14-29) @ Brooklyn Nets (26-18)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Brooklyn Nets are coming home tonight to play the Orlando Magic, who they have beaten three times already this year, and are trying to put the last two blowout losses behind them.  The Nets have been obliterated in the paint the last two games and have allowed 122 points in the paint combined.  The Grizzlies and Rockets did whatever they wanted inside and penetrated at will.  This must change for the Nets to get back on the winning track and P.J. Carlesimo knows that it is unacceptable.

[quote_box]”We can say we’re tired, fourth game in six nights, out on the road and all that,” Carlesimo said, “… But we’re just getting annihilated on points in the paint.”[/quote_box]

The Magic have lost 16-of-18 games overall, 10 straight to opponents that have a below .500 record and are coming into Brooklyn losers of five in a row.  Not good times in Orlando and their defense is their main problem as they have plummeted to the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency rating, allowing opponents to score 111.6 points per 100 possessions.

The team that comes out and plays the best interior defense will likely win this game.  The Magic are desperate for a win and the Nets have a seven game home winning streak they want to extend and head into the Wednesday battle with the Miami Heat with a win.

Matchup of the Game: Brook Lopez  vs Nikola Vucevic

Brook Lopez has played marginally on offense in the last two games but his defense has been poor to say the least.  This has to change as the new guy on the block is Nikola Vucevic and he is coming of age. Vucevic is having a breakout season and is averaging 12 points and almost 12 rebounds a game while trying to lead the transitioning Magic into the future.  Lopez needs to match his intensity in the middle tonight for the Nets to continue their home winning streak.

[quote_box]”We’ve had breakdowns, man,” said Joe Johnson, the team’s second-leading scorer at 17.2 points per game. “Once you have one or two breakdowns, guys stop trusting one another. Then everybody kind of just locked in on their own man and that’s when you get out of sync.[/quote_box]

STAT FOR TONIGHT: The Magic and are 0-3 against the Nets this year and are only scoring 76 points per game in those meetings after Orlando went 3-0 last season against the Nets.

Nets:

Tornike Shengelia (concussion symptoms) out indefinitely

Magic: