Nets fall to Orlando as seven Magic players score in double figures
Nets forward Mikal Bridges, left, looks to pass the ball as Magic forward Paolo Banchero defends during the first half of an NBA game Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Credit: AP/John Raoux
ORLANDO — When the Nets faced the Magic two weeks ago, they did a disappearing act with a season-low in scoring. On Wednesday, it was a better but still unsatisfying sequel.
The Nets lost, 114-106, to the Magic at Kia Center to even the season series at 2-2 and resume their six-game road trip. It wasn’t as bad as the Nets only scoring 81 points on Feb. 27 yet they couldn’t overcome the Magic shooting 51.9% from the field, including 43.8% on threes.
But there were familiar signs of trouble. The Nets (26-40) shot just 7-for-26 on threes. They allowed the Magic to make their first eight shots in the paint and trailed by 18 points in the first half.
The Magic (38-28) also had seven players score in double figures, led by All-Star Paolo Banchero’s 21 points and seven assists. That balance offset the Nets rallying with a 38-point second quarter then wasting that effort with two turnovers leading to points within the first 30 seconds of the third.
“That just gets their mojo on and that puts us on our heels and we just can’t do that,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “Like I say, our margin of error is too small, and we have to make shots, but that can’t be predicated on energy and effort on defense.”
The Nets, who’ve lost four of their last six games, trailed wire-to-wire in a game that got chippy at times. Both teams combined for six technical fouls, including four by the Nets.
In the third quarter, Jonathan Isaac tipped in a rebound for the Nets, except Isaac plays for the Magic. The basket was credited to Jalen Wilson and it was a rare gift from the home team but it didn’t matter as the Nets trailed by double digits most of the second half.
“It shows that we have some fight but at the same time, we have to stick to our game plan,” Cam Thomas said. “Push the ball in transition, shoot a lot of threes. So I feel like we have to play our brand of basketball.”
Thomas had 21 points and a career-high tying eight rebounds. Mikal Bridges added 17 points while Cam Johnson returned with 13 points in 28 minutes after missing the previous three games with a sprained right ankle.
Johnson played his fifth game as a reserve this season. His previous four came after missing four games with a left adductor injury yet he was more concerned by the Nets’ play than his role.
“Too many stretches of the game where we let it get away from us,” Johnson said. “Let the physicality get away from us. We did some positive things but the negative kind of ruined the day.”
They also fell behind the Hawks by four games for the final play-in spot. Atlanta played a late game in Portland Wednesday night.
The Nets are off for two nights until they take on the Pacers Saturday. Yet Wednesday was a rough start to a six-game stretch where five of the Nets’ next opponents have a winning record.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
