Magic/Nets preview

After a lackluster loss to WAS FRI night, the Magic (22-18, 8-11 road, 6th East) will try to get their act together at NJ (19-20, 12-10 home, 4th East). NJ has won 8 of their last 10 games, and is coming off a 101-100 last-second win at NY FRI night. G Jason Kidd led with 23 pts and 9 asts.

NJ is led by G/F Vince Carter, who averages 25 ppg on 44.7% shooting and 5.9 rebs; F Richard Jefferson 16.1 ppg; and Kidd 14.3 ppg, 9.3 asts, and 8.3 rebs. Kidd also has an excellent AST/TO ratio of 3.3/1. C Nenad Krstic, averaging 16.4 ppg, is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered last month. NJ averages 97.1 ppg, while allowing 97.4 ppg. The Magic average 93.6 ppg, while allowing 92.5 ppg.

The Magic need to come out and play with some pride tonight after the embarrassing second half against WAS, where the Magic were outscored 69-48. This is the first meting between the two teams this season. Last season, the Nets swept all 3 games. NJ is a 3 1/2 pt favorite (www.pinnaclesports.com).