No Durant, No Problem for Streaking Nets

Brooklyn’s doing just fine without Kevin Durant in the lineup, winning five straight since he strained his hamstring earlier this month. The Nets (21-12 SU, 17-16 ATS) will be without KD once again Thursday when they shoot for their eighth consecutive win and cover against the visiting Magic (13-19, 15-17).

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Nets were 9-point favorites when these teams met last month in Brooklyn when James Harden made his Nets debut and Durant was in the lineup. Orlando hung tough, losing 122-115 to earn its sixth cover in the last seven meetings.

Orlando News & Notes

The Magic are coming off a 105-93 home loss to Detroit on Tuesday that snapped a 3-0 SU and ATS spurt. Orlando shot just 37.5 percent from the field and newly named all-star center Nikola Vucevic was held to 20 points on 9-of-22 shooting, two days after torching the Pistons for 37 points in a 105-96 win.

Vucevic may have been hampered by a mild ankle injury he suffered late in the second quarter, although he was listed as probable in Wednesday’s injury report.

Tuesday’s loss marked the 13th time already this season that the Magic failed to score at least 100 points in a game, something that doesn’t bode well for Orlando’s chances of keeping up with the high-octane Nets attack. Orlando was held to just 44 points in the second half and the Magic were 0-for-10 from behind the three-point line in the third quarter.

Brooklyn will also be the toughest test the Magic have faced in a while. Phoenix is the only top-five team in either conference that Orlando has faced in its last 10 games, with the Magic going 5-5 SU during that stretch.

Brooklyn News & Notes

With Durant still sidelined by a hamstring injury that will also keep him out of tonight’s contest, Bruce Brown did his best KD impression Tuesday in Brooklyn’s 127-118 win over the Kings. Brown scored a career-high 29 points on just 13 attempts from the field, hitting two of three from behind the arc and going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.

Nearly half of Brown’s points came in the fourth quarter to help Brooklyn break open a tight game down the stretch. Playing their first game back from a West Coast road trip, the Nets weren’t at their best against Sacramento, clinging to a 110-109 lead midway through the fourth before eventually pulling away with a 14-1 run.

James Harden recorded his sixth triple-double of the season and played a team-high 41 minutes as Brooklyn earned its seventh straight victory and cover.

Durant isn’t Brooklyn’s only frontcourt player battling injuries these days. Jeff Green missed Tuesday’s contest with a shoulder contusion that could prevent him from suiting up against the Magic, and Landry Shamet is dealing with a chest injury. DeAndre Jordan started at center Tuesday for Brooklyn and recorded four blocks for the second straight outing, adding 10 points and eight rebounds.

Betting Pick: Nets -7.5

Orlando’s offense isn’t dynamic enough to keep up with a Brooklyn attack that has scored at least 127 points in five of its last six games.