Despite the acquisition of Rafer Alston, the Orlando Magic are still having a tough time getting back into a groove since point guard Jameer Nelson was injured. The New Jersey Nets are still out of playoff position even though floor leader Devin Harris remains hot.
Carelessness and an inability to take protect the ball have been evident even in victory for the Magic, who look to slow down Harris and the Nets on Friday night.Orlando (44-16) hasn't been nearly as dominant since Nelson went down for the season with a dislocated right shoulder, going 8-6 since he left a loss to Dallas on Feb. 2. The middling stretch has hurt the Magic's chances of catching Cleveland for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, as they're four games behind the Cavaliers and three behind second-place Boston.
Nelson was in the midst of a career season, averaging 16.7 points and 5.4 assists.
Orlando has won two straight for just the second time since losing Nelson. The Magic, though, matched a season high with 24 turnovers in a 111-99 win over Phoenix on Tuesday night.
Alston, acquired from Houston on Feb. 19 to fill Nelson's spot, had 15 points and six assists but also committed four turnovers.
"We've got to do a better job taking care of the ball," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "But our intensity is back up and our energy is back up to where it needs to be and hopefully it will stay that way."
Harris had 25 points and 11 assists Wednesday night, but turned it over six times in New Jersey's 115-111 loss to Boston. He averaged 25.5 points and 12.5 assists in the Nets' last two defeats, but had six turnovers in each game.
Harris has picked up his production slightly with New Jersey (27-34) trying return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. He's averaging 24.9 points and 8.8 assists in his last 10 games, but the Nets have won only seven of those contests.
New Jersey is a half-game behind eighth-place Milwaukee in the East.
"When you're around this time, and we've been through this drill before, you've got to clean up what you did wrong and you've got to move on," coach Lawrence Frank said. "The losses sting, but it's going to be a fight to the finish."
Harris had 28 points, 12 assists and five rebounds at Orlando on Feb. 8, but New Jersey lost 101-84. He was without backcourt mate Vince Carter, who sat out with a strained right elbow.
Carter had 34 points against the Celtics after being held to less than 20 in four of his previous five contests.
Even if Carter can put together a big game against Orlando, New Jersey will need Brook Lopez to provide a strong presence in the post as he matches up with Dwight Howard.
Lopez, the 10th overall pick in last year's draft, had 19 points and 12 rebounds in this season's first matchup with the Magic. Howard finished with 30 points, 16 rebounds and three steals.
Howard is averaging 29.8 points while shooting 65.1 percent in his last four home games.
