Who: Orlando Magic (15-18) vs. New Jersey Nets (20-10).
When: 7:30 p.m. today.
Where: New Jersey's Continental Airlines Arena.
TV, radio: UPN Channel 65, WMEL-AM 920, WDBO-AM 580.
Starters: Orlando -- guards Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady; fowards Mike Miller, Horace Grant; center Andrew DeClercq. New Jersey -- guards Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles; forwards Keith Van Horn, Kenyon Martin; center Todd MacCulloch.
Magic notes: Orlando failed to capitalize on its comeback win in New York on Sunday night, losing 110-94 in Boston. Orlando trailed 66-50 and never made a serious run in the second half. $Defense was once again a major problem. The Magic allowed the Celtics to shoot 62.2 percent in the first half and 52.9 percent in the game. Antoine Walker beat Magic power forward Horace Grant for 30 points, 20 of them coming in the first half. Orlando has fallen to 26th in the NBA in points allowed, giving up 98 points a game. $Tracy McGrady had trouble with Boston's trapping defense and scored just 15 points. He got off just 14 shots and did not play in the fourth quarter because the game was so lopsided. McGrady, who is averaging 25.7 points a game, fell from third to fifth in the NBA in scoring. $Mike Miller showed signs of breaking out of his recent shooting slump Wednesday, scoring 15 points against the Celtics. Miller made three 3-pointers. $Darrell Armstrong is playing with a muscle strain in his back. Against the Celtics his season-best 13 assists were overshadowed by his eight turnovers.
Nets notes: New Jersey has been the surprise of the NBA this season. The Nets have posted the best record in the Eastern Conference after going just 26-56 last season. The Nets enter tonight's game having won four of their past five games. New Jersey routed Memphis 92-74 Wednesday night by holding the Grizzlies to just seven points in the second quarter. Aaron Williams led the Nets with 20 points, the first time this season a reserve led them in scoring. . . If the season ended today, point guard Jason Kidd would likely be the hands-down winner of the NBA's Most Valuable Player award. The veteran point guard, acquired in an offseason trade with Phoenix for Stephon Marbury, is second in the NBA in assists (10.3) and fourth in steals (1.97). He has had two triple-doubles and 13 double-doubles. The one negative is he is shooting just 36.2 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent from 3-point line. $The Nets' scoring balance is another credit to Kidd's passing and court vision. Keith Van Horn (16.0 ppg.), Kenyon Martin (15.9), Kerry Kittles (12.5) and Todd MacCulloch (10.6) have kept teams off balance all season. $New Jersey is 11-3 at home this season despite having the worst attendance in the NBA. $New Jersey has lost five of its last six games against Orlando. The Magic are 12-11 all-time in New Jersey.
Next for the Magic: Saturday, vs. Golden State Warriors, 7:30 p.m. (Sunshine Network).