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The good news is that the Nets played even with the Orlando Magic for the final three quarters. The bad news is that they put themselves in a 17-point hole in the first. The result: an easy 108-91 victory for Orlando at the Prudential Center. Along the way, Nets fans let Dwight Howard know he'd be more than welcome in Newark or Brooklyn.
Howard called the fan reaction a "humbling experience." but when asked about the Nets and the future, he said he's focused on basketball.
The Magic shot 15-24 in the first quarter, led 34-17 after the first 12 minutes, and by as many as 22 midway through the second. Another flurry of third-quarter threes from Deron Williams cut the lead to eight, but the Magic answered with a 12-2 run and the Nets never got to within single-digits after that.
MarShon Brooks led the Nets with 24 points, shooting 10-for-15 from the field and 4-for-7 from three-point range. Williams finished with 23 points, six rebounds and eight assists. And in his second game back from surgery, Brook Lopez scored 15 points on 7-for-16 shooting, but grabbed just four rebounds in 28 minutes. Howard led the Magic, who shot 54 percent for the game, with 20 points and 17 rebounds.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Magic vs. Nets (Video) - NBA.com
- Notebook: Magic 108, Nets 91 - Abe Schwadron - NBA.com
- Dwight Howard dominates in audition for Nets - AP
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Dwight Howard 'humbled' by Nets fans - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Rapid Reaction: Magic 108, Nets 91 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Speculation Resumes as Howard Visits Nets - Jake Appleman - New York Times
- Nets fall to Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, 108-91 - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Dwight Howard's destination remains unknown despite hope of bringing Nets magic - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
- Magic's Howard shows Nets what they’re missing - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Nets’ Lopez would love to play with Howard - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Deron gets motivation - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Nets fans give Howard a big-time reception - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Former Nets teammates Lopez, Anderson still close- Tim Bontemps - New York Post
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Nets lose Monday's Magic vs. Orlando - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
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Dwight Howard on LeBron and "The Decision" - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
- Nets doomed by Howard, Magic, 108-91 - Andy Vasquez - The Record
- Nets put on the Ritz for Magic star - Andy Vasquez - The Record
- Nets notes: Brook Lopez plan Andy Vasquez - The Record
- Post Game Plus (Video) - Chris Shearn - YES Network
- From the Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
- Brook Lopez Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Anthony Morrow Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Nets pull out all stops for Dwight Howard, lose - Zach Schronbrun - New York Newsday
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Nets have no Magic in latest loss (Post-game Video Inside) - Gregory Hrinya - Examiner
- Nets fans get good look at Dwight Howard as Magic crush New Jersey (Video) - Josh Robbins - Orlando Sentinel
- Stan Van Gundy speaks after Wednesday s Magic Nets game (Video) Josh Robbins - Orlando Sentinel
- Photo Gallery: Orlando Magic at New Jersey Nets - Orlando Sentinel