The Southern Tour Continues: Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic Preview

The way the Nets lost a few nights was actually…. satisfactory.

Yes, Ben Simmons could have been better. And we could have done a better job with Trae Young. And Nic Claxton didn't have to throw a WWE clothesline at Dyson Daniels to end his already limited debut with the team.

On the bright side, Cam Thomas had 36 points with decent shot selection, Jalen Wilson provided good minutes and showed he can be a good rotation player, and we didn't lose THAT much… and oh yeah, Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper are still in their sights. This is a victory in my opinion.

But tonight there could be a different kind of loss.

Tonight the Nets face a young and exciting (and hungry) Orlando Magic team with potential as big as hopefully the summer of 2025 for Brooklyn.

Where to watch the game

Catch the action at 7:00 pm ET on the YES Network.

Injuries

Bojan Bogdanovic, Trenton Watford and Day'ron Sharpe remain out for the Nets. No word on a possible suspension for Claxton.

Jonathan Isaac is out with a left hip injury.

The game

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I'm afraid this game might be a worse loss than opening night. Compared to the Nets, who are just focused on their development, the Magic are in great shape mentally and physically. Additionally, key players like Jalen Suggs are coming off a massive contract extension (5 years and over $150 million), so you know he feels like the man. The Magic also have an established young phenom in Paolo Banchero. In a convincing 19-point win against the Heat, Banchero posted a double-double with 33 points and 11 rebounds. He continually pushed himself to the bucket and progressed to showjumping horses that veterans are still mastering. And when you add in Franz Wagner and a solid bench, the Magic look scary.

For Brooklyn, we're hoping we can get a solid performance from Ben Simmons on both ends. If he can match Banchero defensively, force him to hit hard and force him to use his teammates, that would be a victory. And on offense, I would like to see the same aggressiveness that he showed last season. Even in a few minutes against the Hawks, Simmons attacked the rim with some urgency. If we see that, it can change the game for the better for the Nets.

Players to keep an eye on

Banchero will definitely be a standout in today's game, but second-year Anthony Black also has a chance to make a name for himself. With a height of 1.90 meters and point guard skills, Black can do almost anything on the court. Against the Heat, Black showed early signs of making the right plays while showing outstanding athleticism, and I think he'll be able to do that tonight. And of course, it's still early enough for us to see more Magic emerge.

From the safe

Whenever the Magic and Nets get together this year, it will be a German family reunion of sorts. Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner are all members of the German national team that won the FIBA ​​World Championship in 2023 with the Nets guard as MVP. They also played together at the Paris Olympics, but did not win a medal.

Here is the gold medal ceremony in Manila in 2023…

By the way, this won't be the only family gathering tonight. Nets assistant coach Juwan Howard's son, Jett, plays for the Magic. Juwan coached Jett at Michigan.