Magic-Nets: Orlando wins 95-85, but Vince Carter Injured On Return To New Jersey

Vince Carter's return to New Jersey was spoiled by a first-half injury on Friday night as the Orlando Magic ran out deserving 95-85 winners over the Nets.

All-Star Dwight Howard picked up the slack in his absence with his first 20-20 of the season, helping the Magic improve to 2-0 while handing the nets their second defeat in as many games.

After receiving a standing ovation from the majority of the Izod Center crowd, Carter quickly racked up 16 points, three rebounds and four assists before spraining his left ankle in the closing minutes of the second quarter.

The 11-year veteran shot 6-of-8 from the field, dunking the ball on Orlando's opening possession and nailing a pair of 3-pointers before limping off gingerly with 2:55 remaining in the half after stepping on Devin Harris's foot and falling awkwardly.

Carter was helped off the court for treatment and an X-ray and he never returned to the action. Fortunately for the Magic, he wasn't too badly missed.

Howard scored 20 points, collected 22 rebounds, and swatted four blocks and the Magic led by as many as 15 points in a largely effortless victory.

New Jersey never really threatened the defending Eastern Conference champions, leading just once in the game in the second quarter and never getting within more than six points in the second half.

Shooting guard Courtney Lee led all Nets' scorers with 18 points, and Devin Harris added 16 points, seven assists and five boards in New Jersey's home opener.

Center Brook Lopez, who picked up a team-high 27 points in their first game, found himself in foul trouble for most of the game and was only able to add 11 points in 25 minutes of action.

Yi Jianlian scored a further 12 points for the hosts, adding five rebounds and a pair of blocks, and backup point guard Rafer Alston scored 10 more off the bench in 17 minutes of action.

Josh Boone also looked useful underneath the basket on both ends of the field, scooping up eight rebounds and recording a blocked shot on defense and tipping back two missed shots for four second-chance points on offense.

New Jersey didn't necessarily play badly, turning the ball over just six times, but they never found a way to stop Howard or Orlando's inside game.

The Magic scored 48 of their points from inside the paint, getting high-percentage shots from the constantly double-teamed Howard.

In fact, if Howard was more successful from the free throw line, the game may have been out of reach by the third quarter. He missed his first six from the charity stripe, finishing with 4-of-11.

His presence alone though was more than enough to allow his team mates multiple opportunities to shoot mid-range jump shots, and New Jersey only ever seemed to make inroads into the Orlando lead when he was on the bench.

While Howard's backup Marcin Gortat never made much of an impact, JJ Redick scored double digits off the bench, Brandon Bass added 13 in the second half alone and Jason Williams dished out eight assists.

New Jersey travels to Washington on Saturday night, with Orlando visiting Toronto on Sunday.