Inside The Nets

A depleted Brooklyn Nets team gets blown out 108 to 81 by the Orlando Magic

Brooklyn did not match the Magic’s energy, leading to a blowout loss.

Peter Sunjic

© Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets looked exhausted in the 108 to 81 loss to the Orlando Magic, as the team struggled from the jump. As a team that relies on high energy levels to succeed, Brooklyn did not perform on the second night of a back-to-back.

Coach Kevin Ollie’s squad couldn’t consistently score because Mikal Bridges struggled with shooting 2-of-13 from the field. Dennis Schroder had a team-high 15 points, but the Nets couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn, shooting 39.2% from the field. Franz Wagner scored 21 points for Orlando, leading the Magic to a big blowout win.

“We talked about it at halftime that we wanted to play harder, address some things,” Kevin Ollie said about the flat performance even in the second half. “But then we went out on the court, and we gave up a layup and an open transition three.”

A flat performance for the Nets

Brooklyn looked every bit of a team on the second night of a back-to-back. The players were exhausted, as they had a big win against the Grizzlies on the first leg of the back-to-back. The team missed Ben Simmons, who’s not allowed to play on the second night, while Cameron Thomas rolled his ankle against Memphis.

The duo’s absences were huge for Brooklyn, given Simmons is a primary playmaker while Thomas is arguably the team’s best scorer. Losing them led to the Magic honing on stopping Mikal, who had his season-low in points with only four.

Apart from their struggles to score without the stars, the Nets fell flat, as they needed an energetic playstyle. It should be unacceptable for Coach Ollie since he wants everyone to play with good energy.

A chance to bounce back

Brooklyn can bounce back and make up ground for the Atlanta Hawks in the team’s next two games. Those two games are a chance for the Nets to solidify the team’s case for making it into the Play-In Tournament.

The team hasn’t played well lately, but getting Thomas and Simmons back would be massive for them. Coach Ollie must ensure the Nets can compete in that matchup, considering Hawks All-Star Trae Young is out for an extended period.

Cam Thomas believes his ankle injury is not a big issue

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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