Magic rout Nets 105-82 for first victory in Brooklyn
NEW YORK (AP) For Orlando's players with ties to New York, it must have been frustrating that the Magic could never win in Brooklyn.
When the Magic play as they did Monday, they feel they can win in any location.
Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points, Elfrid Payton had 17 and the Magic beat the Nets 105-82 for their first victory in Brooklyn.
Tobias Harris had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who had dropped all six games here since the Nets moved for the 2012-13 season. They had little trouble in this one, going ahead just before halftime and gradually extending their lead throughout the second half.
Forward Channing Frye said both his parents grew up nearby. Harris, his cousin, is from Dix Hills.
''For me, any time you come home to New York, especially being that I was playing here, you want to show out,'' said Frye, a former Knicks forward. ''So I just wanted us to play good basketball and get this win.''
The Magic bounced back after consecutive losses, including a 111-76 embarrassment at home against Cleveland on Friday. They shot 54 percent from the field and led by 26 in the fourth quarter.
''We played great basketball today and we've got to keep it going,'' Harris said. ''We've got to play like this consistently.''
Jarrett Jack scored 15 points for the Nets, who have dropped two in a row at home after winning six of their previous seven. Brooklyn shot just 39 percent.
Brook Lopez shot 4 of 15 for just 11 points, the force clearly not strong in him on a night the Nets distributed a Star Wars-themed bobblehead of their leading scorer.
''I definitely take responsibility for this one. I felt I was a complete negative for our team,'' Lopez said. ''I kind of let us down and pulled us back. I definitely need to be better and I can be. It was very frustrating.''
Orlando closed the first half with an 11-4 spurt for a 52-45 lead, extended it to 83-69 after three, then began the fourth with six in a row to open a 20-point bulge. The Magic kept pouring it on after the benches were emptied and fans booed the home team as time expired.
''Well, that was a good game for about a quarter and eight minutes,'' Nets coach Lionel Hollins said. ''We had good defense, we had good ball movement and then we just started standing and holding the ball too much.''
Brooklyn had won four straight and nine of the last 11 meetings, but these Magic are a difficult matchup for them. Orlando's young players are quicker and big men Vucevic and Frye can shoot from the perimeter, making them tough for the Nets' bigs to guard.
Andrew Nicholson had 15 points off the bench, including a big fourth-quarter dunk over Andrea Bargnani, and Frye made three 3-pointers and scored 11.
TIP-INS
Magic: Scott Skiles coached his 900th NBA regular-season game. He is 456-444. ... It was the first of two straight Monday nights in New York for the Magic. They visit the Knicks next week.
Nets: It was the second straight game the Nets lost an undefeated record against an opponent in Brooklyn, as the Clippers had been 0-3 here before their victory Saturday. The only team that hasn't beaten the Nets since they moved from New Jersey is Sacramento, which is 0-3.
THE FORCE IS WITH THEM
The Nets celebrated Star Wars night, giving away bobbleheads of Lopez wearing a Jedi robe over his jersey and holding a lightsaber. The Magic are hosting their own Star Wars-themed night Wednesday against Charlotte, with ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' opening later this week.
STARTING THE SECOND
The Nets opened the second quarter with four points in 2 seconds. The Magic were given a delay of game warning for taking too long to get ready for play, then had the inbounds pass stolen by Markel Brown, who scored and was fouled. Skiles was called for a technical foul during the stoppage, Wayne Ellington made the free throw, and a 25-all game became 29-25 with 11:58 left in the period.
UP NEXT
Magic: Host Charlotte on Wednesday.
Nets: Host Miami on Wednesday.
