Former teammates Vince Carter (l.) and Devin Harris still share a friendship. PHOTO BY CHRIS PUSATERI / LSV

East Rutherford, NJ – “Hey, wanna go to a Nets game?”

“No?”

What if I told you they’re playing the defending Eastern Conference Champs? 

You’ll also get to see Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, as well as the return of former

New Jersey great Vince Carter! 

Still not sold?  Alright fine, if you buy a ticket and promise to come, we’ll do your taxes for you. 

Wait, what?

Confused?  Let’s backtrack.

Nets center Brook Lopez and Orlando All-Star Dwight Howard made for a good inside matchup Friday night. PHOTO BY CHRIS PUSATERI / LSV

That’s for starters. 

Since then, the team has fallen to 6-55 on the season, including an appalling 3-28 home record.  Their current home losing streak has reached 11 straight games.  Thus, attendance has dropped to the lowest in the NBA.

Enter the “Roni Deutch Tax Center,” an organization which couldn’t have less to do with professional basketball.  In a bizarre cross-promotion, fans who purchased a ticket to Friday’s game also received a voucher for a free tax return, usually costing $29.

Luckily, the 15,320 fans in attendance got even more bang for their buck.  During the pre-game warm-ups, the Orlando Magic, seemingly unconcerned with their opponents, put on a dunking display just before the opening tip. 

Former dunk champs Howard and Carter wooed the audience with windmill jams, alley-oops, and signature 360s. 

Those in attendance even got to see 6-foot-11 center Marcin Gortat do his best Isaiah Rider impression.

In addition to uniform dunking ability, the Magic boast one of the most balanced team offenses in the league. Orlando forward Matt Barnes had it going early, scoring 14 in the opening period, while nearly outscoring the entire Nets offense single-handedly during the first twelve minutes.

“We were concerned with so many guys like Vince and Dwight, he was the open guy,” said Nets center Brook Lopez on Barnes’ early hot hand.  “He does a great job moving without the ball and moving off of Dwight and Vince. He was really working hard.”

Carter returned to his former NBA home for just the second time since the summer trade which sent him to Orlando. 

Carter, New Jersey’s second all-time scorer, received a well-deserved standing ovation during his introduction onto the court.  New Jersey has undoubtedly felt “Vinsanity’s” absence this season, plummeting from last year’s 34-48 mark last year when Vince acted as team leader.

“I always knew I could depend on him on the court,” said Jersey point guard Devin Harris on his former teammate.  “As far as late game situations, and the guy we needed to go to, it was his game.”

Orlando's Matt Barnes goes in for a jam. PHOTO BY CHRIS PUSATERI / LSV

Harris added: “It’s good to see him on a team like Orlando where his skills are being utilized, and obviously they need him doing what he’s doing at his best.”

The difference was most evident when Carter hit a 3, and instead of the familiar impassioned “VC for  3,” the announcer simply stated in monotone “three-pointer, Vince Carter.” 

Carter was one of six Magic players to finish in double figures with 13 points.

“We all understand that we have to sacrifice shots for other guys to benefit the team,” Howard explained.  “We don’t focus on who takes the shots, but what we can do as a team.”

Friday’s win over New Jersey put Orlando two games up on the Atlanta Hawks in the Southwest Division, and second in the Eastern Conference.

Following the game, Nets guard Keyon Dooling entered the visiting locker room to catch up with his former Orlando teammates.

Dooling, traded in 2008 to the Garden State, had to watch his old team rise to the NBA finals last year from home.  As for this year, the closest “Key” gets to the “Magic” is on the other side of the ball, in a loss. 

Howard jokingly chastised his friend on them not seeing each other in recent years, to which Dooling replied, “Don’t worry; I’ll be coming out to watch you guys in the playoffs.”

Harris and Carter had a similar exchange on the court as the seconds ticked down in regulation.  Said Harris on the brief conversation:  “I told [Carter] I’d make sure and get out there to see him in the playoffs; I also told him to get the pool house ready.

At least the Nets have something to look forward to.

NOTES: Friday's matchup was also "Latin Night." The Nets honored the Latin community by hosting the special evening at the Izod Center. Latin Night is presented by Goya Foods, Inc. in association with Vonage. The night began with a National Anthem performance by recording artist and Newark, NJ native Frankie Negrón. Then, at halftime, the crowd was treated to a performance by the foremost dance representative of Hispanic culture in the U.S., Ballet Hispanico. Other features of the night included a performance by the senior dance team from the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx; IZOD CENTER food provider ARAMARK featured Latin dishes seasoned with Goya products throughout arena lounges and clubs; Goya/NETS giveaways were distributed to the first 5,000 fans to enter the arena; and Vonage/NETS commemorative Latin Night themed posters were distributed to everyone in attendance upon departure. "There is a large Latin population in the metropolitan area and I feel that it is important for us to continue to reach out to that community and invite everyone to become a part of Nets basketball," New Jersey's Brook Lopez said.