Nets Beat the Raptors, but Their Thoughts Are on Dwight Howard NEWARK - As the war for leverage raged on between the Magic and Dwight Howard with less than a day before the N.B.A."s trade deadline, the Nets - a hopeful suitor for Howard - won by 98-84 over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Gerald Green (14) of the New Jersey Nets reacts after completing a shot and drawing a foul against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Beating a fellow bottom-dweller of the Eastern Conference mattered little compared with the looming situation in Orlando, set to uplift the ailing Nets or further cloud the franchise's murky prospects before its move to Brooklyn next season. The Magic confirmed Wednesday that Howard declined to waive his right to become a free agent, thus keeping his options open for next season. Whether Howard will leave Orlando in July or stay with the team through next season has been a distraction for the Magic all season and an invitation for trade rumors involving the Nets. In the two days leading up to the trading deadline, reports about his desires clashed. The Nets ended Wednesday night as a victor in Newark but remained only a hopeful in the hunt for Howard. The best-case for the Nets would be for Howard to opt out of his contract after the season, then sign with the Nets, allowing them to keep the players they would otherwise have had to include in a trade for him. Acquiring Howard would also be a needed recruiting tool for the point guard Deron Williams, who could leave the Nets after his contract expires this season. The threat of winding up in Brooklyn without either of them becomes significantly greater if the Nets cannot acquire Howard by the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline. "I don't want to talk about this trade deadline stuff," said Williams, who would not comment on Howard any further and missed his third consecutive game with a calf injury. I'm going to grab some popcorn and sit back. Gerald Green scored 26 points off the bench and propelled the Nets to a stellar second-half comeback. Kris Humphries notched 16 points and 21 rebounds. His jumper with 7 minutes 18 seconds left in the third gave the Nets a lead they would not surrender. The Nets will be in the air as the trade deadline passes on Thursday, coincidentally on a flight to Orlando for their next game. It would make for a convenient departure for anyone dealt to the Magic. Is that fair? Humphries said. I'm hoping that whatever deal gets done, it's before the guy gets on the airplane. Who knows, man, it's the N.B.A.