The Nets competed from start to finish Friday night at Kia Center, forcing a season-high 19 turnovers while committing just seven. But their valiant effort fell short in the final seconds, as the Nets lost to the Orlando Magic 105-98, dropping to 1-11 and 0-2 in NBA Cup East Group B.
Brooklyn has now dropped four straight since earning its first win of the season on Nov. 5. Day’Ron Sharpe returned after a one-game absence, while the Magic were without All-Star Paolo Banchero.
The Nets came out swinging in Orlando, delivering one of their most complete opening quarters of the season. Michael Porter Jr. set the early tone with six assists in the first, the most he has ever recorded in any quarter and tied for a career high. He added 11 points as well, anchoring a Brooklyn offense that shot 12-of-22 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range. The ball was moving, with 11 assists to just one turnover, and the defense brought some bite, forcing the Magic into seven giveaways and creating five extra shot attempts because of it. Brooklyn led 36-27 after one and looked fully in control.
That momentum carried into the second. The Nets opened the quarter on an 8-3 run and pushed the lead to 44-30, their largest advantage of the season. They kept Orlando on its heels, stringing together stops and continuing to share the ball on the other end. For a team that has struggled to dictate tempo all year, it was a reminder of what this group can look like when it connects effort with execution.
Rookie Drake Powell set the tone defensively with tenacious full-court pressure, and Porter, Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney and Ziaire Williams shared the scoring load. But basketball is a game of runs, and the Magic had theirs. After leading by as many as 16, the Nets watched Orlando close the half on a 17-5 surge. A scoring drought of more than four minutes didn’t help, but Brooklyn still managed to reach halftime with a four-point edge, fighting to keep control of a game they had dominated early.
And what would the Nets do with their first halftime lead of the season? It was gone by the 10:17 mark of the third, wiped out when Tristan da Silva buried a 3-pointer to give Orlando its first lead. But Brooklyn didn’t fold. After falling behind by seven later in the period, the Nets responded with an 18-8 burst to reclaim an 82-79 edge heading into the fourth.
A tight final frame came down to the closing seconds. After Franz Wagner banked in a 3-pointer high off the glass to put the Magic up 100-98, Terance Mann missed on the other end. Wagner then buried his next attempt, drilling a 26-footer to push Orlando ahead 103-98 with 43.9 seconds left. Brooklyn couldn’t respond, and the Magic sealed the game at the free throw line.
Orlando closed the game on a 11-0 run that included three consecutive triples.
Porter led the Nets with 24 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven assists, while Wagner paced Orlando with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Nets return to action Sunday against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.
