NEW YORK — In a dominant performance, the Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 123-100 during an NBA Cup matchup on Friday night. Franz Wagner led the charge for the Magic with an impressive 29 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 19 points to the victory.

Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. each added 12 points for Orlando, who improved to a perfect 3-0 record in Group A play, putting them in a tie with New York. The Magic are set to face the Knicks, who also hold a 3-0 record in Group A of the Eastern Conference, on Tuesday. This upcoming game will be crucial, as the winner will advance as the group champion.

Following a rough patch that saw them lose five consecutive games, all on the road, Orlando has bounced back significantly, now winning five straight contests and 11 out of their last 12 games.

For the Nets, Shake Milton was the standout performer off the bench, scoring 22 points. Keon Johnson added 15 points, also from the bench, and Cam Johnson chipped in with 14 points. However, Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak came to an end, dropping their record to 1-3 in the in-season tournament.

Key takeaways from the game include Orlando’s successful turnaround, winning four out of their last five road games after a series of defeats. For Brooklyn, Dennis Schroder, who averages 18.6 points per game, was absent due to personal reasons.

A pivotal moment in the match was the Magic’s ability to outscore the Knicks in the point differential, a crucial factor in holding the tie-breaker despite both teams sharing the same record. The Knicks had previously secured a 23-point margin of victory against Charlotte, but the Magic managed to finish strong, scoring their last three shots of the game from beyond the arc.

Statistically, Orlando’s performance from long-range was remarkable, as they hit 18 out of 35 attempts from three-point territory.

Looking ahead, the Nets will host the Magic again on Sunday to conclude their two-game series in Brooklyn.