EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Matt Barnes scored 14 of his 16 points in the first quarter when Orlando opened a double-digit lead and the Magic won their fourth straight, 97-87 over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night.
Vince Carter scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, Dwight Howard added 11 points and 16 rebounds as the Magic beat the Nets for the third time this season.
Jameer Nelson had 15 points and eight of the Magic's 24 assists in the game that was never close.
Devin Harris had 17 points and 10 assists for the Nets (6-55), who lost their third straight after stunning Boston last weekend. Brook Lopez added 18 points and eight rebounds.
Terrence Williams added 14 points and Kris Humphries 12 as the Nets fell to 3-28 at the not-so-friendly confines of the Izod Center.
Jason Williams, who had 18 points in his last five games, tallied 13 for Orlando.
Barnes hit six of seven shots in the opening quarter and scored 12 straight points for Orlando in helping them take a 32-18 lead.
With Humphries, Terrence Williams and Jarvis Hayes all scoring five points in the second quarter, the Nets managed to cut the lead to seven points at the half.
Carter, traded to Orlando in a draft-day blockbuster that cleared cap room for New Jersey in the upcoming offseason, scored nine points in the third quarter to push the lead back to 15 and it was never close again.
Notes
Harris hit a 40 footer at the end of the first quarter, but it came after the buzzer. … The Magic are 30-4 when they hit 10 or more 3-pointers. … Orlando is 30-11 against the Eastern Conference. … Barnes and Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy got hit with technical fouls for arguing non-calls on what seemingly were obvious fouls. … New Jersey never led in the game.