Orlando Magic Stuns Brooklyn Nets with Home Victory

The Orlando Magic put on a show for the home crowd on Friday night, outscoring the Brooklyn Nets 116-101. Spearheading this victory were Franz Wagner, who dominated with 29 points, and his brother Mo Wagner, who contributed a solid 18 points.

Key Magic Players Outshine Nets

Paolo Banchero’s performance was notable with 15 points and nine assists, especially considering he failed to make a field goal in the first half. Wendell Carter also made his presence felt, pulling down 10 rebounds.

On the Nets’ side, Cam Thomas stood out with 24 points, while Dennis Schroeder chipped in with 20. The Nets enjoyed their largest lead at 53-49 after Ben Simmons kicked off the second half with a seven-point run.

Challenges for the Nets: Turnovers and Free-Throw Differential

The Nets struggled to compete on the road in their opening two games, mainly due to 37 turnovers and a free-throw differential of minus-33.

Orlando Magic Bench Comes Up Big

The Magic proved they can secure victories even without Banchero at his peak, thanks to major contributions from the bench. Since March 30, the Magic have clinched eight consecutive home victories, including their first-round playoff match against Cleveland, despite losing seven out of eight on the road.

Key Moment of the Game

A pivotal moment came when Franz Wagner sunk two free throws with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter, breaking a 65-65 tie. This opened up a 13-0 run that saw Simmons benched due to his fifth foul. The Nets were unable to close the gap to less than eight thereafter.

Noteworthy Statistic

In a marked improvement from last season, when the Magic averaged only 11 3-pointers per game (the lowest in the NBA), they hit 33 in their first two games this season while shooting at 41.8%. Against the Nets, ten players contributed at least one 3-pointer.

Looking Ahead

The Magic will face off against Memphis on Saturday night, while the Nets are set to play their home opener on Sunday night against Milwaukee.