Magic Outlast Nets for Sixth Straight Win, 100-92
BROOKLYN – The Orlando Magic continue to assert themselves as one of the league’s hottest teams, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 100-92 on Sunday at Barclays Center for their sixth straight win and 12th in their last 13 games. Behind a relentless defensive effort, the Magic held Brooklyn to 38% shooting from the field and 25.8% from three-point range, overcoming turnovers and foul trouble to seal the victory.
Tied 50-50 at halftime, the Magic weathered early foul trouble, including four fouls on Jonathan Isaac in the second quarter and five on Jalen Suggs by the 10:41 mark of the third. Despite the adversity, Orlando’s defensive tenacity and dominance on the glass proved decisive. They outrebounded Brooklyn 52-33 and recorded 11 blocks and 10 steals, marking the second consecutive game with double-digit totals in both categories.
Orlando built a nine-point lead late in the third quarter and led 75-69 entering the fourth, fueled by Franz Wagner’s all-around performance and timely three-pointers from Wendell Carter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Wagner finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Carter and Caldwell-Pope added 14 and 16 points, respectively.
Brooklyn, led by Cam Johnson’s 26 points and Dennis Schroder’s 20, rallied early in the fourth to tie the game at 75-75. However, Orlando responded with a stifling defensive stretch, allowing just 17 points over the final 10 minutes. Caldwell-Pope’s clutch three-pointer broke an 83-83 tie with 6:51 remaining, and the Magic extended their lead to eight with under three minutes to play, capitalizing on repeated stops.
A frustrated Nets squad saw Nicolas Claxton ejected in the closing minutes after a flagrant foul on Wagner. Orlando’s composure at the free-throw line, converting 25-of-32 attempts, proved critical in sealing the win.
“Just us being poised,” said Carter. “We’ve been in big moments, and tonight we stuck to what works—defense, rebounding, and keeping our composure.”
The victory marks the Magic’s second six-game win streak this season, a feat last achieved in 2010-11. Orlando now prepares for a pivotal NBA Cup matchup against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, with playoff implications on the line.
