New Jersey Nets @ Orlando Magic

Yardbarker.com

Fresh off a blowout victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Orlando Magic will host the New Jersey Nets Friday night. The Nets, who were the worst team in basketball last season, look poised to show great improvement.

The Nets have lost their last two games, including a heartbreaking 85-83 loss against the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday night, but started the year 2-0 and currently stand at 2-2.

The game will be shown locally on Sun Sports. As always, if you can’t watch the game, you can listen on the radio – in English on AM 580 WDBO and in Spanish on AM 1270 WRLZ.

Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 pm EST.

Starters:

New Jersey Nets

Brook Lopez
Troy Murphy
Travis Outlaw
Anthony Morrow
Devin Harris

Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard
Ryan Anderson
Rashard Lewis
Vince Carter
Jameer Nelson

The officials will be Ken Mauer, Leroy Richardson and Gary Zielinski.

Opponent To Watch: Brook Lopez, Center – Fresh off a breakout season that saw him average 18.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, Lopez isn’t disappointing, going for 22.8 points per game. Lopez will get a good gauge on his progress when he matches up with the league’s best Center, Dwight Howard. Lopez was dominated by Howard in three games last season, often getting in foul trouble. He averaged just 11.0 points (on 31.4% shooting from the field) and 6.0 rebounds per game against Orlando last season.

What To Watch For: How Rashard Lewis tries to rebound from a poor start and how Jameer Nelson deals with Nets Point Guard Devin Harris, who’s back to playing at an All-Star level (18.8 ppg, 8.3 apg).

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, a contributor on the Fansided Front Page, and co-host of CB Sports Radio from 5-7 pm week days (1420sports.com). Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here).