Nic Claxton not buying tired excuses as the Nets suffered in the last portion of back-to-back vs. the Magic

With no Paolo Banchero manning in the middle for Magic, the shorthanded Nets still dropped with another loss.

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After savoring a dominant dub that handed Kevin Ollie's first coaching win last Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, the second night of the Brooklyn Nets' back-to-back outing this time on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic flashed an opposite outcome. 

Gassed and hobbled with both Cam Thomas (ankle) and Ben Simmons (injury management) inactive as they arrived in Kia Center, the Nets were trampled and pulverized by the rising young Magic squad from the jump until the final buzzer, 108-81.

A lackluster effort that led to a disappointing loss

From superior to woeful, the entire 24 hours of the ball club produced a major shift of energy and results. Indeed, it was a tiring transition, especially since the leg was on the road, but Nic Claxton sees no reason for the Nets to file excuses.

With Orlando superstar Paolo Banchero unavailable due to an illness, Nic believes that Brooklyn's disappointing loss came down to a punchless approach and failure to capitalize on the opportunity.

“They just came out with a lot of energy and intensity. We were kind of playing on our back foot all night, and they made shots,” Claxton said, who finished with an underwhelming 10 points and five boards. “We’ve been losing. We’ve just gotta be prepared. [Tuesday] is excusable, and we gotta have our energy right from the jump. Like I said, they came out, and they were kind of on 10, and we weren’t there.”

A resounding lesson out of another poor show-off

With the defeat, the Nets crashed to an abysmal 2-7 card in the second part of their back-to-back meetings this 2023-24 season. Other than urgency, Claxton believes that this poses a daunting assignment in how they should be prepared to perform amid exhaustion.

“It’s a challenge for everybody in the league. We all have to deal with it,” Claxton said. “You just got to manage your body mentally, physically, and just lock in.”

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