Players and coaches for the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets both discussed how important Monday night’s game would be.
Evan Fournier said facing and beating the teams close to the standings almost count as double because of the tiebreaker implications. Coach Steve Clifford recalled how the Magic’s two losses to the Nets last year cost them at the end of the season — the two teams finished tied for sixth at 42-40.
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson echoed all of this. He said before the game how he expects the Magic and Nets to battle to the end of the season for the final playoff spots.