Nets vs. Magic 2012 results: second-half effort dooms Orlando as Brooklyn wins, 98-86

The Brooklyn Nets took full advantage of the struggles of the Orlando Magic, with Brooklyn taking a 98-86 win in Orlando. The Magic trailed by only one at the half, but Brooklyn outscored Orlando 53-42 in the second half.

Orlando won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Nets 48-40, showing some improvement on an issue that had concerned the team's veterans. The second half demonstrated Orlando is still having trouble showing fight, something that also concerned the team's leaders.

The results were a step up from when the Nets last visited the Amway center, a 107-68 Brooklyn win in early November. Glen Davis led Orlando in scoring, going 6-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the line for 16 points. Orlando shot 44.9 percent on field goals, including an abysmal 1-for-11 on three-pointers. The Nets were about the same on field goals (45.8 percent) but shot a much better 11-of-20 from beyond the arc.

Joe Johnson was the leading scorer for Brooklyn with 22 points, but all five of the Nets' starters had 11 or more points.
With the loss Orlando falls to 5-10 and 4-5 at home. Their next game is on the road, facing the Los Angeles Lakers.