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MickyEyez · 02-26-2008, 12:42 PM

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Orlando Magic (36-22) vs. New Jersey Nets (25-31)

7:30 PM EST, Continental Airlines Arena

New Jersey Nets

Williams/Carter/Jefferson/Krstic/Boone

Orlando Magic

Nelson/Evans/Turkoglu/Lewis/Howard

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Quote:

The New Jersey Nets knew it would be difficult to make the playoffs after trading away nine-time All-Star Jason Kidd. So far, Marcus Williams and Richard Jefferson have their team looking like it's up to the challenge.

Williams and Jefferson look to lead the Nets to a fifth straight home win for the first time this season when they face the Southwest Division-leading Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

New Jersey (25-31) is in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, and has won five of seven games after dropping 12 of the previous 14.

The Nets traded the disgruntled Kidd to Dallas last week, and New Jersey has responded with two wins in three games. Williams, Kidd's replacement at point guard, has played well in both victories.

New Jersey defeated Indiana 102-91 on Saturday to split a home-and-home series with the Pacers. Williams had eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high 13 assists, bouncing back from Friday's 113-103 loss at Indiana when he had five points, four assists and three turnovers.

"Coach told me everyone has a bad game," said Williams, who had a season-high 25 points in New Jersey's 110-102 win over Chicago on Wednesday. "It's all about how you respond. My main focus was being intense. I tried to play hard on defense and bounce back on offense."

Jefferson has also been picking up the slack since Kidd left, matching his season high with 36 points Saturday. Jefferson is averaging 31.3 points on 56.1 percent shooting in three games since the All-Star break, after averaging 15.7 points on 37.5 percent in the three games prior.

Jefferson, though, has struggled against the Magic this season, averaging 13.3 points on 28.3 percent shooting in the three meetings. The Nets have lost two of those games, with the Magic winning 95-70 at East Rutherford on Nov. 16.

New Jersey has been playing much better at the Izod Center lately, though, outscoring opponents by an average of 10.5 points during its four-game home winning streak.

Vince Carter had 24 points Saturday, and is averaging 26.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in his last five home games. Carter, who did not play in the Nets' home loss to the Magic in November, scored 18 points in each of the other two meetings.

The Nets will be facing a Magic club that's also been hot of late. Orlando (36-22) defeated Sacramento 112-93 on Sunday to win for the fourth time in five games.

Magic reserves scored the team's first 24 points in the fourth quarter, extending a six-point lead to 21. Brian Cook and Keyon Dooling scored 11 apiece in the final period.

"I think we have a lot of weapons on this team, all the way to the last player," Cook said.

While the bench had a big game Sunday, All-Star center Dwight Howard is still the team's leader.

Howard had 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 10 rebounds against the Kings. He's averaging 29.0 points, 14.3 boards and 78.0 percent shooting in his last three games after scoring eight points on 2-of-9 shooting in his first game after the All-Star break.

Howard is averaging 18.3 points and 15.0 rebounds in three games against the Nets this season.

GO MAGIC!