Magic 104, Nets 88: Storm Can't Slow Orlando

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) – The Orlando Magic may have been late getting to the Prudential Center because of a winter storm, but they made up for it on the court by handling the New Jersey Nets 104-88.

A severe winter storm left as much as two feet of snow on the Newark area Sunday, enough to delay the Orlando team bus as it became stuck in a snowbank on the way to the arena.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points, Dwight Howard notched a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds and Ryan Anderson finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds in a reserve role for Orlando, which has won three straight following a four-game skid.

Devin Harris led the Nets with 24 points and Brook Lopez finished with 20 points and seven rebounds for New Jersey, which has lost two straight.

The Nets have not beaten the Magic since April 2009.

New Jersey led 25-24 after a back-and-forth first quarter, but only shot 36.8 percent from the field in the second, which allowed the Magic to take a 51-44 lead at the half.

Howard led the way in the third with 11 points as Orlando widened its lead to 81-69 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Magic lead remained above 15 down the stretch, and after a pair of three- pointers — one from Jameer Nelson, one from Turkoglu — it hit a game-high 23.

The threes capped a 10-2 Orlando run that stretched into the final three minutes of play.

J.J. Redick finished with 15 points, Jason Richardson scored 14 and Brandon Bass added 11 points for the Magic…Orlando’s Gilbert Arenas, who ended with nine points in a reserve role, hit a shot from the three-point arc on the other side of the court at the first-half buzzer, but the ball bounced off the rim and then the shot clock and was disallowed…Orlando won the rebounding margin 46-39…The teams committed a combined 29 turnovers (14 for Orlando, 15 for New Jersey)…Travis Outlaw and Jordan Farmar both accounted for 10 points in the loss…The Nets outscored Orlando 44-30 in the paint.

New Jersey Nets vs. Orlando Magic: New Look Magic Visit The Rock

(Sports Network) - Coming off a big Christmas Day win over streaking Boston, the Orlando Magic will test their skills on the road when they open a quick two-game road trip tonight against the New Jersey Nets at Prudential Center.

Orlando ended the Celtics' 14-game winning streak with an 86-78 victory on Saturday, as Jameer Nelson finished with 12 points and buried a big three- pointer down the stretch to kelp the Magic win for the second straight time since a four-game slide. Orlando defeated San Antonio two nights earlier.

"This is two of the biggest wins we've had so far this season, especially against these type of teams," Nelson said postgame. "The composure we showed throughout the course of the game, especially in the second half, was a good sign for us."

Brandon Bass posted 21 points and nine rebounds, Hedo Turkoglu added 16 points and Dwight Howard chipped in six points and 11 rebounds for Orlando, which had a 45-39 edge on the boards and won for just the third time in its previous 11 contests. J.J. Redick posted 11 points off the bench.

The Magic are 7-7 away from central Florida this season and 13-6 against teams from the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey had won two straight and three of four games before suffering a 105-91 setback in New Orleans on Wednesday.

Devin Harris had 21 points and eight assists, while Brook Lopez netted 16 points for the Nets, who were killed on the glass by a 48-30 margin and allowed the Hornets to make 54 percent of their shots.

"They (the Hornets) did a good job on us," Nets guard Jordan Farmar said afterwards. "They started off real aggressive just attacking all night. We are coming off a back-to-back, and we played really well last night. For us it was a little discouraging, disheartening to play like that. We just kept playing catch-up."

Derrick Favors and Sasha Vujacic scored 10 and 12 points, respectively, in the loss. Vujacic is listed as probable for tonight with a hamstring injury. Lopez has played in 194 straight games.

New Jersey has won two straight at home and is 6-8 as the host this season.

Orlando has already beaten the Nets twice this season and has won five straight and 12 of the past 15 meetings between the teams. These two clubs have split the past 14 encounters in New Jersey.