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The Orlando Magic fell to the Brooklyn Nets, 82-74, Sunday afternoon to drop their fourth straight game. Orlando started J.J. Redick at shooting guard for the first time this season, moving Arron Afflalo to small forward. The move did not pay off for the Magic, as Redick struggled, scoring 10 points on 3 of 12 shooting, including 0 for 4 on 3s. Redick, though, did lead the Magic with 9 assists. Point guard E`Twaun Moore had a rough game also, scoring 8 points on 3 of 11 shooting.
Redick starting further depleted the Magic bench, already shorthanded due to a myriad of injuries. The Magic reserves scored just four points for the game.
All five starters played at least 38 minutes for the Magic. Afflalo and Glen Davis led the Magic with 19 points each, with Davis also grabbing 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Davis, though, continued to struggle from the field, shooting 9 for 21. Center Nikola Vucevic also had a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, but was 6 of 16 from the field.
The game started out as if it were going to be another blowout for Brooklyn, as they got off to a 35-17 lead after the opening frame, shooting 56 1/2%, including 5 of 8 on 3s. For the remaining three quarters, the Magic held the Nets to just 47 points on 16 of 55 (29.1%) shooting.
The Magic chipped away at the Nets' lead the rest of the way, and came as close as 77-72 with 1:15 remaining after a Davis layup, but Nets' center Brook Lopez, who led Brooklyn with 20 points, scored to up the Nets' lead to seven points and effectively put the game away.
Brooklyn power forward Kris Humphries hurt the Magic, scoring 14 points along with 21 rebounds. Humphries helped the Nets to a sizable advantage on the boards, as they outrebounded the Magic 55-41. Point guard Deron Williams scored 17 points along with 7 assists, and shooting guard Joe Johnson scored 13 points, but shot just 3 of 13.
Both teams struggled from the floor, with the Nets shooting 37% for the game while the Magic shot 36%. The Magic had their worst 3-point shooting game in years, shooting just 1 for 12 from long range. The one 3-point field goal was the first time since the 2006-07 season that the Magic did not make at least two 3-pointers in a game.
Despite being shorthanded, on the road, and falling behind by so many points early, Orlando deserves credit for not giving up and making a game out of it, as Brooklyn could not put the game away until the final minute.