Nets’ shorthanded sorcery runs out in 123-100 loss to Magic

What a week it was for Jordi Fernandez. Injuries began to heap up connected Sunday successful Sacramento, but his radical remained assured successful the steadfast players it did have. Brooklyn responded with 3 consecutive victories implicit the Kings, Warriors and Suns to extremity their latest West Coast plaything connected a shockingly precocious note.

While the play is inactive young, an statement tin beryllium made that nary caput manager successful the NBA has done much with little this season. The first-year caput manager has exceeded each expectations contempt Brooklyn’s flawed situation. As the kids say, helium has been heavy successful his bag, and each subordinate connected the roster has benefited from his leadership.

However, the Nets‘ shorthanded sorcery was nullified successful Friday’s 123-100 nonaccomplishment to the Orlando Magic astatine Barclays Center. Brooklyn played without 2 of its superior creators successful Cam Thomas and Dennis Schröder. While Orlando did not person the luxury of a steadfast Paolo Banchero, their superior extent shined through.

One of the Nets’ worst losses of the play came astatine the hands of this aforesaid Magic squad connected Oct. 25, 116-101.

Not having Thomas oregon Schröder successful the lineup did not look to beryllium an contented aboriginal on. Jalen Wilson, successful his 3rd commencement of the season, started 3-of-3 from 3-point range. The Net started 5-for-7 from heavy arsenic a team, scoring was balanced crossed the board, and contempt 13 first-quarter points from Orlando’s Franz Wagner, they trailed by lone 4 points entering the 2nd and were shooting 63.2% from the field. Ball question and unselfish play continued to uplift them adjacent though their endowment was lacking.

The crippled was tied astatine 48 with 3:11 near successful the archetypal half, and that is erstwhile the Nets suffered their archetypal large acold streak connected offense, and it gave the Magic separation that it ne'er relinquished. Orlando knocked down 3 3-pointers successful astir 2 minutes, with a layup and a dunk mixed in, and abruptly Brooklyn recovered itself down 15 points with 53.4 seconds near successful the 2nd quarter. It trailed 61-49 astatine halftime.

Orlando opened the 3rd 4th connected a 13-5 tally portion shooting 4of-5 from 3 to unfastened up a 20-point lead. It was a 25-point crippled entering the last frame, and determination would beryllium nary frantic comeback this time, adjacent though Fernandez’s radical continued to combat until the end.

The Nets committed 20 turnovers, which talented Orlando 34 points.

Shake Milton, who played 34 minutes with Thomas and Schröder out, scored a season-high 22 points disconnected the seat with 4 assists. Keon Johnson added 15 points. Brooklyn utilized a antithetic starting lineup for the sixth consecutive crippled connected Friday and Tyrese Martin was portion of the latest configuration. He finished with 8 points connected 3-of-6 aft pouring successful 30 points against Phoenix connected Wednesday.

Wagner led Orlando with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

The Nets saw their season-best three-game triumph streak snapped with the nonaccomplishment and fell to 9-11. The Magic notched triumph No. 14 and extended their existent triumph streak to 4 games. Friday was besides Brooklyn’s last Emirates NBA Cup crippled this season. It was mathematically eliminated from advancing to the knock-out rounds, finishing with a 1-3 grounds successful East Group A.

The Nets volition not person to hold agelong for a changeable astatine revenge. They volition look the Magic again astatine Barclays Center connected Sunday successful the archetypal crippled of a home-road back-to-back set.

Originally Published: November 29, 2024 astatine 10:02 PM EST