The Orlando Magic host the New Jersey Nets on Thursday night in a game that'll receive a lot more attention than an early-season matchup between a 52-win team and a 58-loss team ordinarily would. Magic superstar Dwight Howard takes on one of the three teams he's indicated he'd like Orlando to trade him to, so all eyes are on him.
New Jersey is coming off a 36-point whipping against the Atlanta Hawks, one in which it shot 31 percent from the field, got outrebounded by 15, and committed 18 turnovers in about as poor a performance you'll see from an NBA team. Granted, the Nets are without young center prospect Brook Lopez, thus having to rely on warm body Johan Petro and the recovering Mehmet Okur to man the pivot, but they still shouldn't have gotten slammed by 36 at home to Atlanta.
Orlando can improve to 2-0 at Amway Center with a win Thursday. New Jersey lacks defensive talent, save for backup point guard Sundiata Gaines and reserve swingman DeShawn Stevenson, so Orlando has an opportunity to try to get the players surrounding Howard involved in the offense.
| 2011/2012 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | @ |  |
| 1-1 (1-0 away) Lost 1 | 1-1 (1-0 home) Won 1 | |
| December 30th, 2011 | ||
| Amway Center | ||
| 7:00 PM | ||
| Fox Sports Florida | ||
| Probable Starters | ||
| Deron Williams | PG | Jameer Nelson |
| Anthony Morrow | SG | Jason Richardson |
| Damion James | SF | Hedo Turkoglu |
| Kris Humphries | PF | Ryan Anderson |
| Johan Petro | C | Dwight Howard |
| 2010/11 Advanced Stats | ||
| 89.9 (24th) | Pace | 91.4 (17th) |
| 103.1 (27th) | ORtg | 107.7 (T-14th) |
| 109.9 (21st) | DRtg | 101.8 (3rd) |
| Game Officials | ||
| Dick Bavetta | ||
| Olandis Poole | ||
| Sean Wright | ||