The Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 118-98 on Thursday at the Kia Center. Orlando led from the 11:08 mark of the first quarter and never relinquished the lead. With the win, the Magic have now won nine straight contests against the Nets dating back to 2023.
“The human factor does take a toll, and understanding that they just, you know, one of their brothers moved on, and I think them having the recognition of that, and also knowing that they had a job to do on the court tonight, they celebrated each other, they played the right way, us being able to have 32 assists, holding them under 100 points,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. ”That is a big mark for this group right now”
Jalen Suggs recorded his first career triple double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, recording a career-high four blocks as well. Desmond Bane led the team with 23 points and Paolo Banchero added 22, while Nets rookie Egor Dёmin led the game with a career-high 26 points.
“To be honest, I don’t even be getting into the individual accomplishments and stuff like that, I be liking the win, but you know, it’s pretty special,” Suggs said. “My big brother [Tyus Jones] left today. We just spoke a lot about this, how we can attack and be intentional about just playing great basketball and trying to impact their games in so many ways. Can not only be the good games, but if it wins, just help our team keep going. So, yeah, this was, this was in honor of [Jones] I ain’t gonna lie.”
Game flow
First quarter
The Magic opened the game with an 11-3 run, including five points from Suggs. Since returning from injury against the Cavaliers, Suggs has averaged 12 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
“I thought [Suggs] was great tonight, I really do,” Mosley said. “His energy is always, his focus on the defensive end, getting guys involved, making the easy play. There was a point in the game that I just saw him after he made the pass to the corner. He just, it was beautiful basketball because he just came around with such a number of points. Just to find the easy, simple pass for guys, and I think that’s what he’s capable of doing. Obviously, we know he can do defensively, but his ability to give guys involved is really special.”
Dёmin would respond with a 5-0 run, but a Noah Clowney loose ball foul led to a flashy alley-oop from Suggs to Anthony Black, forcing a timeout. Brooklyn came out on a 7-4 run, cutting Orlando’s lead to two. Black then assisted on a basket and sunk a three, forcing another timeout from the visitors.
In the first quarter, the Magic went 10-of-20 from the field with nine of their 10 misses coming from three. After ranking last in three-point percentage last season, Orlando is tied for the third-worst shooting percentage from deep in the 2025-26 season through 50 games.
“Starting a game off holding them to 19 points in the first quarter, knowing that we set the tone with our defense, and that’s what these guys did,” Mosley said. ”There was a seriousness to them. I love the focus, knowing what we needed to do, because we’ve been with this team before, and we’ve had big leads, and we’ve given it away.”
Second quarter
Orlando would start the second quarter on another big run, outscoring Brooklyn 13-4 over the first four minutes. Bane accounted for nine of those points and scored 13 in the quarter.
The Magic held a 15+ point lead for most of the quarter, growing their lead to 21 with four minutes left in the half. Orlando’s 21 point lead was the team’s largest since their defeat in Toronto to end 2025.
The Nets went on a 7-0 run, with six of those points coming from Michael Porter Jr. Bane would end their run with a basket, putting Orlando up 56-40 going into halftime.
Third quarter
To start the second half, Dёmin went on a 6-1 run by himself. Suggs would respond with a 5-0 run of his own, including a steal off Dёmin that led to a 360 dunk.
Halfway through the third, Suggs would collect a career-high fourth block off Nets rookie center Danny Wolf. Both Suggs and Black had eight points in the quarter, while Dёmin led the third with 11.
Fourth quarter
The fourth saw much the same, as Orlando went on a 9-0 run to grow the lead to 24. Orlando emptied the bench halfway through the fourth, but Brooklyn responded with a 7-0 run in a minute, prompting a Magic timeout. Goga Bitadze would go on a 4-0 run with back-to-back baskets and the Magic would coast the rest of the way for the win.
The Magic won despite spirits being low due to the trade of veteran guard Tyus Jones. Jones was moved to the Charlotte Hornets alongside two second round picks and was later rerouted to the Dallas Mavericks.
“[The fans] mean the world, not only to me individually, I’ve expressed that, and they know that, but to us as a whole,” Suggs said. “These years are long, they’re not easy, we’re imperfect human beings, too. But, I think having them stick with us, knowing that they continue to love and cheer us on, through every up and down. It really does give you a sense of confidence. It makes you love being back at home, especially going down the stretch of the season. We are all one. It’s everyone in, and that’s not only in this building, it’s the city included. The city know they got my love. Everybody loves to play here and to live here. They mean the world to us.”
Next up
The Magic continue their four-game home stand vs. below .500 teams against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Orlando won in Utah earlier this season in overtime and the team is looking to sweep the season series.
“It’s nice to have nights like this, and, you know, they’ve reset the standard of what you can be, and, you know, have something to look back on that you can try and replicate, and be night in and out,” Suggs said.
Tip-off against the Jazz is set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 7.