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Nets can get to .500 with win

Jan 20, 2007 - 4:19 PM Orlando (22-18) at New Jersey (19-20) 8:00 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Nets can become the only Atlantic Division team to get to .500 with a win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

Coming off last season's 49-win campaign and a division title, New Jersey opened with nine losses in its first 14 contests before gradually coming back to lead the Toronto Raptors by one game in the Atlantic Division.

The Nets extended their winning streak to three games with Friday's 101-100 triumph over the New York Knicks. Clifford Robinson tipped in a shot with 2.8 seconds remaining, Jason Kidd scored 23 points and Richard Jefferson added 21 for New Jersey.

Orlando has hit another rough spot in its schedule. The Magic have lost four in a row, which followed a five-game winning streak that came after a four-game slide.

After dropping the final three contests of a four-game road trip, Orlando returned home and lost to Washington, 114-93, on Friday. Grant Hill scored 24 points and Dwight Howard added 20 with 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double in 10 games.

New Jersey swept all three meetings against Orlando last season, including a 96-93 triumph last February 22. Kidd led the Nets with 28 points and 11 assists.