(My Sportsbook) - The Southeast champion Orlando Magic will open a quick two- game road trip tonight against the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center. Orlando is third in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the Boston Celtics with three games remaining. It is coming off Friday's 105-95 home loss versus the New York Knicks at Amway Arena, as Hedo Turkoglu finished with 24 points, nine boards and five assists in a losing effort. Dwight Howard had 16 points and 14 boards in the setback, while Rafer Alston and Rashard Lewis scored 14 and 13, respectively, for the Magic, who entered the game having won three of four games. Orlando, which is 27-12 as the guest and will also visit Milwaukee, will close out the regular season against Charlotte at home on April 15. New Jersey is out of the playoff picture and will kick off a short two-game homestand Saturday versus Orlando and Charlotte. The Nets are 17-22 at the Meadowlands this season and have lost two in a row and eight of the last 10 games, including a 100-93 loss to Detroit on Friday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Ryan Anderson ended with 20 points for the Nets, who got 16 points apiece from Brook Lopez, Keyon Dooling and Chris Douglas-Roberts. New Jersey is out of the postseason for a second straight year and will close out its 2008-09 campaign on April 15 at New York. Nets guard Devin Harris left Friday's game with a sore left shoulder and is questionable against Orlando. The Magic have won the first two matchups with New Jersey this season and four straight overall. These two teams have split the last eight meetings at the Meadowlands. |
