Game 45: Magic vs. Nets GameThread

The Orlando Magic are just 1.5 games back of the eighth and final seed, and can gain some ground on the current seventh-seeded Brooklyn Nets with a victory on Friday.

The Nets, just two games ahead of the Magic, are on a bit of a hot streak, winning six of their previous eight games. That included impressive victories over both the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics this week.

But the Magic have won four in a row at home. Can they keep the streak alive and crawl one game closer to playoff-seeding?

Note:

Mo Bamba is available and will play tonight, according to head coach Steve Clifford. Khem Birch will also get minutes at the center position.

“We don’t want to get him (Bamba) too tired.”

What: Orlando Magic (19-25) vs Brooklyn Nets (23-23)

Where: Amway Center - Orlando, Florida

When: Friday at 7:00 p.m. EST

TV: Fox Sports Florida, NBA League Pass

Line: Nets -1, Over/Under 216

Injuries: Magic - Mo Bamba (available, foot), Timofey Mozgov (out, knee); Nets - Allen Crabbe (out, sore right knee), Jared Dudley (out, left hamstring strain), Caris LeVert (out, subtalar dislocation, right foot), Dzanan Musa (out, left shoulder subluxation)

For an in-depth preview, check out Preston’s words here.

To get a behind the scenes look from the Nets, give a gander to our friend’s work at NetsDaily.

And as always, join the conversation below....