The Brooklyn Nets (1-10) have been hungry for another win ever since they won their first game of the season at the Indiana Pacers in what seems like a long time ago. Brooklyn is still trying to figure out how to play more of the rookies while being competitive in their NBA Cup matchup Friday at the Orlando Magic (6-6) and if you’re wondering how you can watch all the action live, you’ve come to the right place!
The Nets come into this game following a 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday in which Brooklyn was competitive in the game for the first three quarters before things fell apart in the fourth. Center Nic Claxton had arguably his best all-around performance of the young season with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks while forward Michael Porter Jr. put up 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists of his own.
The Magic enter this matchup after a 124-107 win at the New York Knicks on Wednesday in which Orlando ended the game with Paolo Banchero suffered a groin injury in the first quarter of the contest. Forward Franz Wagner led the way for the Magic with 28 points, nine rebounds, and four assists while guard Desmond Bane had 22 points, six rebounds, and eight assists to help Wagner out with the scoring.
The Lines, Courtesy Of BetMGM
- Point-spread: Nets (+13.5)
- Money-line: Nets (+625)
- Over/Under: 223.5
Notable Injuries
Nets: OUT: Haywood Highsmith (knee), Cam Thomas (hamstring), Ben Saraf (G League), Nolan Traore (G League), and Danny Wolf (G League). PROBABLE: Day’Ron Sharpe (glute).
Magic: OUT: Paolo Banchero (groin), Mo Wagner (knee), Colin Castleton (G League), and Orlando Robinson (G League). AVAILABLE: Franz Wagner (facemask).
Advice and Prediction
The Nets have been trying to figure out how to accomplish the goals of developing some of the rookies on the team while putting a product on the court that Nets fans can be proud of. Brooklyn has not been doing much winning this season and the prospect of winning is understandably getting harder with Cam Thomas being out of action for the next few weeks.
The Magic have had a disappointing start to the season, especially considering that the addition of Desmond Bane did not have the kind of impact that many pundits thought it would as he had to get used to playing within Orlando’s system. Just when Bane was catching his stride playing alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Banchero suffered his groin strain and now, the Magic will have to operate without one of its best players.
The Nets and Magic rank in the bottom half of the league in offensive rating, but it’s the defensive end of the floor and pace is where these two teams are going in different directions. Brooklyn sits at the bottom of the NBA in defensive rating and in pace while Orlando is one of the better teams in the league in both categories, but the Banchero injury could change this matchup a bit.
Prediction: Magic 115, Nets 110
