If you didn't tune into the Orlando Magic (2-3) game on Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets (2-2), then it was probably for the best. The Nets blew out an inexperienced Magic team by 39 points at Amway Center. It wasn't the prettiest game for Orlando so far this season.
The Nets outmatched the Magic with their length and found ways to exploit them on almost every possession. They shut down the Magic, allowing them to shoot 42.9 percent from the field, while the Nets were shooting 50 percent.
The Magic's offense suffered tremendously as they were not able to score more than 19 points in any individual quarter. Bringing the ball up was another issue for Orlando as it could only rely on a point guard rotation consisting of E`Twaun Moore and Ish Smith.
Moore, in his second season, logged 40 minutes, scored a game-high 18 points (drilling four-of-six 3-pointers), dished five assists, but he turned the ball over six times. Behind him: Arron Afflalo (12 points, six-of-12 from the field); Nikola Vucevic (10 points, five rebounds); Andrew Nicholson (10 points, four-of-four from the field 2-of-2 from the foul line).
Moreover, Orlando had trouble boxing-out on Friday night. Brooklyn outrebounded it, 48-35. And more notably, not a single Magic player grabbed more than five rebounds. Vucevic and Afflalo were the only Orlando players to reach five boards.
But the poor rebounding wasn't the only negative for Orlando. The Magic weren't able to draw a shooting foul until the 2:35 mark of the third quarter. Gustavo Ayón missed both free throws after officials called Reggie Evans for a Flagrant-1 foul. As a team, Orlando went four-of-eight from the free-throw line.
The Magic will make their first appearance in Brooklyn on Sunday as they play the Nets at 3 PM.