SB Nation Tampa Bay - Nets Vs. Magic: Orlando Wins Defensive Slugfest, 86-70, With Dwight Howard Leading The Wayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-03-18T10:00:19-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26428442012-03-18T10:00:19-04:002012-03-18T10:00:19-04:00NBA Standings 2012: Magic Standings Update
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<p><a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">The Orlando Magic</a> improved their record to 29-16 after their 86-70 dismantling of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> Friday night at the Amway Center. With the trade deadline passing and <span>Dwight Howard</span> firmly entrenched in a Magic uniform for at least one more season, the team continues each game to try and improve their playoff positioning in the competitive Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>The Magic currently have a stranglehold on the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, a full four games ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a>. The team Orlando is chasing in Southeast Division is their interstate rival, the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a>. The Heat (32-11) hold a four game lead over the Magic in the division, and its only fitting that these two teams will renew acquaintances tonight at the American Airlines Arena. Orlando will be looking to move a game closer to the Heat in the standings and defeat them for the second time in less than a week. The Magic beat the Heat in overtime this past Tuesday by a score of 104-98.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Magic, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a>, SB Nation's Magic blog. For all your pro hoops analysis, be sure to check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" href="../../nba">SB Nation's NBA news hub</a>.</i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/3/18/2881429/2012-nba-standings-orlando-magicPaul Ciullo2012-03-16T22:55:38-04:002012-03-16T22:55:38-04:00Nets Vs. Magic Recap: Orlando Back On Winning Track With 16-Point Win Over New Jersey
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> got back on the winning track on Friday night, cruising to a 86-70 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> at Amway Center. In his first game since waiving his early termination option and opting-in to his contract for next season, <span>Dwight Howard</span> led Orlando with 18 points on eight of ten shooting from the floor.</p>
<p>It was a slow-paced and sluggish game game that the Magic won on the defensive end, holding New Jersey to just 34 percent shooting from the field. <span>Deron Williams</span> did not play because of a sore right calf. In addition to Howard, the Magic had five other players in double figures, with <span>Jameer Nelson</span> and <span>Glen Davis</span> adding 13 points each.</p>
<p>It was a win they needed to have against a woeful Nets team that was without their best player. The Magic now travel to Miami for a Sunday showdown with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a>. </p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Magic, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a>, SB Nation's Magic blog. For the opponent's perspective, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.netsdaily.com/">Nets Daily</a>. For all your pro hoops analysis, be sure to check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #004175; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA news hub</a>.</i></span></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/3/16/2879327/nets-vs-magic-recap-final-scoreBrendan Porath2012-03-16T20:24:01-04:002012-03-16T20:24:01-04:00Nets Vs. Magic Score Update: With Dwight Howard Leading The Way, Magic Up 10 At Half
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> lead the New Jersey nets 46-36 after one half at Amway Center. The Magic are playing their first game with the <span>Dwight Howard</span> drama now set aside. The Orlando defense has held the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">Nets</a> to less than 20 points in each quarter so far.</p>
<p>Howard leads all Orlando scorers with ten points but has only four boards so far in a slow-paced, sluggish game on the offensive end. <span>Jameer Nelson</span>, who's been playing some of his best basketball of the season lately, added eight points along with <span>Jason Richardson</span>. As a team, the Magic are shooting 53 percent from the floor which has built the ten-point lead. They will look to continue the defensive pressure in the second half to get back on the winning track against a lowly opponent in the Nets.</p>
<p><i>For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Magic, check out <a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" target="_blank">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a>, SB Nation's Magic blog. For the opponent's perspective, check out <a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/" target="_blank">Nets Daily</a>. For all your pro hoops analysis, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba" target="_blank">SB Nation's NBA news hub</a>.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/3/16/2879011/nets-vs-magic-score-update-with-dwight-howardBrendan Porath2012-03-16T13:24:30-04:002012-03-16T13:24:30-04:00Orlando Magic Vs. New Jersey Nets Preview: Dwight Howard Still In Orlando, What Now?
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<img alt="Mar 14, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) takes a shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 122-111. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mXBbMBkWyMOKAAx-Cc-SspzfPB4=/0x194:466x505/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6007035/20120314_jrc_ai1_234.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mar 14, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) takes a shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 122-111. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The trade deadline has passed and Dwight Howard is still with the Magic. How will Orlando fare the rest of the season, starting with a game against New Jersey Friday night.</p> <p>Now that the trade deadline has come and gone with <span>Dwight Howard</span> remaining with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a>, where do they go from here? They start by hosting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> on Friday night, a team they have defeated 10 consecutive times. Howard scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 122-111 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Howard and the Magic beat the Nets 108-91 in their last game on Feb. 22. In that game, Howard scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. The Magic seem to be happy that all of the trade rumors and talk is finally over and that they can get back to playing basketball.</p>
<p>The Nets made a of trade deadline deals, trading <span>Mehmet Okur</span>, <span>Shawne Williams</span> and a projected first round draft pick for <span>Gerald Wallace</span>. This appeared to be a move to try and convince guard <span>Deron Williams</span> of staying with the Nets and not opting out of his contract after this season.</p>
<p>The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start from the Amway Center. Television coverage will be on Sunshine Network.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/3/16/2877926/orlando-magic-new-jersey-nets-preview-nbaTim Blank