Nets Can't Catch A Win

April 18, 1998 / 1:35 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The New Jersey Nets are down to their last chance.

"We're going to find out if this organization and all of us want to get to that next level," coach John Calipari said after the team's third straight loss, 121-109 Friday night to the Orlando Magic, left the Nets still needing one more win or some wacky strange circumstances to clinch a postseason berth.

"This is the first step. How do we respond in these situations? We're going to find out. How do the players respond? Where are we? Who are we? Are we good enough to get to that next point. When it tightens up a little bit, when the race is tight, can we make plays?" Calipari asked.

Nick Anderson scored 29 points and Bo Outlaw had a triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists as the Magic played spoilers for the second straight game.

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention last weekend, the Magic beat Miami on Wednesday night to ruin the Heat's bid for homecourt advantage in the second round.

The Nets remained in the eighth playoff position, one game ahead of Washington, which beat Miami 97-89. New Jersey can still clinch a playoff spot by winning at home Sunday against Detroit, or by having the Wizards lose their season-finale Saturday.

If Washington wins Saturday and New Jersey loses Sunday, the Nets can still get into the playoffs if Orlando comes up with one more win at Charlotte on Sunday.

The Nets remain confident they'll get the job done.

"There is no pressure on us. We have overachieved this year. We know that," guard Kerry Kittles said. "But we still want to get where we need to be and where we belong. We just have to capitalize on the opportunity."

The Magic, who have played most of the season without injured All-Star Penny Hardaway, assured themselves of at least a .500 finish a prospect that appeared bleak two months ago.

"It did not mean much to me, but there was a pride factor," Orlando coach Chuck Daly said. "That is what it has been all year, a pride factor."

Outlaw made 10 of 11 shots, while Anderson scored 19 of his points in the first half when Orlando raced to a 63-50 lead. Reserve Derek Strong finished with 19 points and Horace Grant had 13 for the Magic.

Sam Cassell led New Jersey with 27 points before leaving late in the fourth quarter with a lower back contusion. X-rays were negative, but the Nets' second-leading scorer is uncertain of his status for Sunday.

"I didn't want it to come down to a one-game season, but that's what it is," Cassell said, adding that if if the game were Saturday he didn't think he'd be able to play.

"It's like the old saying, `do or die.' If we do, we live. If we don't, see you guys in October."

Keith Van Horn had 21 point and Chris Gatling scored 16 for the Nets.

Tempers flared in the third quarter after Orlando's Derek Harper fouled Cassell and both players were slapped with technicals for shoving one another.

Double technicals were also called on Outlaw and New Jersey's Kendall Gill, who got tangled up trying to separate Harper and Cassell, who continued to jostle when play resumed.

The guards were called for double fouls twice in the next 38 seconds. Later in the period, Gatling received a technical for pushing Strong under the basket.

The Magic shot 67 percent in building their 13-point halftime lead and maintained the pace in the third quarter when New Jersey fell behind by 24 before using a 12-0 run to trim its deficit to 95-83 early in the fourth.

New Jersey pulled to 111-99 on Gill's dunk with just under four minutes to go, but the Nets' comeback bid wasn't helped when he fouled out on a charge with 3:36 remaining. Gill also drew a second technical for slamming the ball in protest.

Notes: Anderson scored 20-plus points for the seventh straight game and made three free throws to move within two of the 125 he needs to earn a $1 million performance bonus ... New Jersey has lost five of its last 12 games. ... Orlando shot 65 percent to New Jersey's 46 percent.