The Orlando Magic secured victories in the first three meetings this season against the Brooklyn Nets by generating substantial offense and benefiting from standout performances by Franz Wagner.
However, the Magic are now over three weeks into dealing with Wagner’s absence due to a right oblique tear, and their offensive output has struggled significantly.
Orlando aims to rejuvenate its offense and achieve a season sweep when they host Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon.
In their previous encounters, the Magic triumphed by a combined 46 points, with Wagner contributing a total of 78 points. His impressive performances included two 29-point games in a 15-point home win on October 25 and a 23-point victory in Brooklyn on November 29.
Those wins were part of an impressive 12-win streak out of 13 games for Orlando from November 8 to December 1. However, the Magic’s performance has dipped to 4-7 since the last two meetings with Brooklyn. Additionally, they are 3-5 in eight games since Wagner’s injury in a 102-94 loss at Philadelphia on December 6.
During Wagner’s absence, the Magic have averaged 102 points. While they managed comeback wins against the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, they failed to score 100 points in their past four losses, including back-to-back games under 90 points.
Orlando’s offense faltered in an 89-88 loss to the Heat on Thursday, and they were dominated after halftime in a 108-85 defeat to the visiting New York Knicks the following day.
This loss matched Orlando’s most lopsided defeat this season, being outscored 54-31 after halftime and shooting 36.8 percent from the floor, their third-lowest percentage of the season and the worst since Wagner’s injury.
Turnovers have also plagued Orlando, giving up 24 points off 17 turnovers and allowing 49 points off 40 turnovers in the past two games.
Jalen Suggs scored 27 points against the Knicks and has been averaging 21.1 points over his last seven games. Despite his efforts, the rest of Orlando’s starters combined for 12-of-34 from the floor.
The Nets have had a tough stretch, going 3-9 in their last 12 games since their three-game winning streak on the West Coast. They continue to shuffle their lineup due to various injuries. Brooklyn used its 16th different starting lineup for Friday’s 96-87 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs, with Cameron Johnson held out due to a bruised hip.
Johnson, who scored 29 points in a 111-105 victory in Milwaukee on Thursday, missed the game against the Spurs, leading to Brooklyn’s lowest scoring game of the season. Keon Johnson scored 25 points, while Shake Milton added 16 points and 12 assists, but the Nets shot 38.9 percent, their second-lowest percentage this season.
Ben Simmons is expected to return from a planned rest, and the Nets are hopeful for Cameron Johnson’s return. Johnson has been averaging 23.4 points over his last nine games.
