Meet the Opponent: Nets, Magic Go Back to Back in Brooklyn This Weekend

The Orlando Magic have won 10 of 11 games. The Brooklyn Nets just swept a three-game road trip in Sacramento, Golden State, and Phoenix. Something's gotta give Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots a three-point basket during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-Imagn Images

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Winning anywhere in the NBA is hard, even harder on the road.

But beating a team twice in a row on their court? In a Friday night-Sunday afternoon split with the Brooklyn Nets, the Orlando Magic will try to do just that.

Orlando has won 10 of its past 11 games. Brooklyn swept a three-game road trip in Sacramento, Golden State, and Phoenix. The stage is set for a competitive weekend in the Barclays Center.

About the Nets

Leading Scorers [active]

• Cam Johnson: 17.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 48.7 FG%, 41.7 3PT%
• Dorian Finney-Smith: 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 46.7 FG%, 42.2 3PT%
• Jalen Wilson: 9.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 45.2 FG%, 34.8 3PT%

Gameday Injury News

• Bojan Bogdanovic: OUT (left foot injury recovery)
• Nic Claxton: Questionable (lower back injury management)
• Noah Clowney: OUT (left ankle sprain)
• Dorian Finney-Smith: Questionable (left ankle sprain)
• Cam Johnson: Questionable (right ankle sprain)
• Jaylen Martin: OUT (right knee bone contusion)
• Dennis Schroder: OUT (personal reasons)
• Day'Ron Sharpe: OUT (left hamstring strain)
• Cam Thomas: OUT (left hamstring strain)
• Jalen Wilson: Questionable (right calf tightness)

Notable Numbers

• 13th net rating (8th offense, 25th defense)
• 5th eFG% (56.1), 27th opp. eFG% (56.2)
• 12th FTA rate (.258), 29th opp. FTA rate (.305)
• 16th TOV% (14.7), 14th opp. TOV% (14.9)
• 28th OREB% (26.2), 27th opp. OREB% (31.2)
• 30th fastbreak points/game (11.6)
• 28th points in the paint/game (40.6)

The Nets will be without multiple key contributors for Friday night's matchup with the Magic.

Eight of the Nets' top 10 scorers this season are listed on Brooklyn's injury report, but they also just won three difficult games on the road. Wednesday night in Phoenix, Tyrese Martin had 30 points in just his sixth game.

This season allegedly is about laying the groundwork for future seasons, but first-time head coach Jordi Fernandez and the Nets are 9-10.

They possess a top-10 offense and a bottom-10 defense — the opposite of the Magic. Brooklyn puts opponents on the foul line at the second-highest rate of any team in the league, and Orlando gets to the line the fourth-most of any NBA team. Brooklyn struggles on the glass and with rim protection — two areas in which the Magic are proficient.

Brooklyn is another team that takes and makes many threes. Orlando's top-5 defense will be tested on this road trip, no matter who suits up for the Nets.

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