Vince Carter returns to the Meadowlands tonight as the
Orlando Magic hope to build on an impressive season opening performance when
they head up the east coast to take on the New Jersey Nets at the Izod Center.
Carter, who was traded by the Nets to the Magic for a package that included
Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie, scored 15 points in his Orlando
debut Wednesday as the Magic blitzed Philadelphia, 120-106.
Dwight Howard netted 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the defending
Eastern Conference champs. The All-Star center went 9-of-11 from the field and
grabbed seven offensive rebounds for the Magic, who advanced to the NBA Finals
last season before losing to the Lakers in five games.
Forward Ryan Anderson, who also came over with Carter in the trade with New
Jersey, added 16 points and five rebounds. Jason Williams, another new face,
scored 15, and Mickael Pietrus contributed 13 points for Orlando.
"I think it was good. We all have one goal which is to win a championship,"
said Howard. "And that's the only thing we want to accomplish. Everybody knows
their role for us to win and everybody's out to do it."
The Nets, meanwhile, came up on the short end of their opener Wednesday when
Minnesota's Damien Wilkins hit a leaning bank shot as time expired, and the
Timberwolves rebounded from a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to stun New
Jersey, 95-93, in Minneapolis.
Wilkins, who played in just 41 games for the Thunder last season, grabbed a
rebound with 1.3 seconds left, jumped and hurled an off-balance shot that
found its way to the bottom of the basket. The Timberwolves closed the game on
a 24-6 run in the final 6:50 to win the game.
Brook Lopez dominated for New Jersey with 27 points and 15 rebounds, but the
Nets squandered their first game without last year's leading scorer, Carter.
The returning pieces in the blockbuster -- Lee, Alston and Battie -- combined
for just five points against Minnesota.
"We had it, we were up 14, but had to finish it," said Alston. "I think they
did a better job of finishing the game than we did, thus they won the game. We
have to keep our turnovers down and get good quality possessions."
Yi Jianlian had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, while Devin Harris
added 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds in defeat. Rookie Terrence
Williams debuted with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Orlando won two of three over New Jersey last season and has taken six of
eight in the series overall.
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