The Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 105-98 Friday night in the Kia Center. Orlando improved to 2-0 in Emirates NBA Cup group play behind Franz Wagner’s 25 points, while Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. had a career-high seven assists to go along with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández said Porter Jr.’s performance was impressive.
“I think he did a great job with all of the cutting and the simple plays you saw,” Fernández said. “The seven assists, I think he had at halftime. And we need him to play this way. Give yourself up for your teammates.”
Orlando won despite turning the ball over 19 times and giving up 21 points off of those turnovers. Brooklyn only turned the ball over seven times and limited Orlando to six points on those opportunities.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said that the team will watch every turnover and look to clean up their play going forward.
“This was not Magic basketball,” Mosley said. “19 turnovers for 21 points. In this league, you have to find a way to win the game.”
Quarter-by-quarter flow
First quarter:
To start the game, Orlando turned the ball over on three of their first five possessions, resulting in four points for Brooklyn.
Four minutes into the quarter, Jalen Suggs was assessed a flagrant foul after a reckless closeout attempt on a three point attempt by rookie guard Egor Demin. Demin hit all three free throws and the Nets converted their next basket, putting them up seven. Orlando’s Desmond Bane answered with two layups and Suggs hit a three to tie the game at 17.
Michael Porter Jr. assisted on two Nic Claxton dunks and hit a three out of the timeout for Brooklyn to reclaim the lead. During this stretch, Wagner left the game with a leg injury, and the Nets went on an 11-6 run to take a nine point lead at the end of the first.
Second quarter:
The Nets grew their lead to 16 at the beginning of the second. Brooklyn’s Noah Clowney hit two threes, while Ziaire Williams added five more points. Wagner came back into the game after his injury scare, scoring four of Orlando’s seven points during that span.
“I don’t know what happened,” Wagner said. “A little bit of discomfort, but obviously, it was good for the rest of the game.”
After a timeout, the Magic went on an 11-0 run, with Tristan da Silva accounting for eight points. However, they were unable to capture the lead to end the half, as Orlando trailed 58-54 through 24 minutes.
“[da Silva] is playing great,” Wagner said. “He’s super confident off the catch. I think he’s the type of player we need to be aggressive.”
Third quarter:
Coming out of half, Orlando went on an 8-0 run and took their first lead of the game on a da Silva three. The Magic held the lead for much of the third quarter, but a returning Day’Ron Sharpe made a layup to give Brooklyn the lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Orlando’s Jett Howard reclaimed the lead with a three, but a 4-0 run in the final minute gave Brooklyn an 82-79 lead heading into the final quarter.
Fourth quarter:
To start the fourth, Bane had a 7-0 run of his own, giving Orlando the lead, but the Nets answered with a run of their own. Following Bane’s run, the game saw three lead changes and a tie with less than four minutes remaining.
A dunk by Jonathan Isaac tied at 92 and Orlando took a timeout. Brooklyn then scored four points in less than 30 seconds and forced the Magic to take a timeout. The teams traded baskets and going into the final two minutes, Orlando trailed by four points.
However, a da Silva three and back-to-back Wagner threes sparked an 11-0 run that closed out the contest. The win gives Orlando a winning record for the first time since opening night against the Miami Heat.
“[Wagner] steps up to the moment,” Mosley said. “That’s what it is. I mean, those guys who are making winning plays: Franz hits the big shots, Desmond dives on the floor full court. Jalen attacking the basketball, having five fouls and still not fouling out.”
Next up:
The Magic are traveling to Houston to face the Rockets on Sunday. Coming into the matchup, Houston has won their last three meetings against Orlando and will look to add another at home while the Magic hope to improve their active win streak to four.
“That’s one where we can’t get away with a win if we don’t play our standard,” da Silva said. “We got to make sure that we’re ready, that we win this game, and ready to come out and defend.”
Tip-off against the Rockets is set for 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 16.