The Brooklyn Nets’ roster situation went from bad to worse on Saturday hours before tip-off against the Orlando Magic, as superstar and MVP candidate Kevin Durant entered health and safety protocol.
The Nets’ injury report for the day was almost comically long. In total, 12 Nets players were ruled out for Saturday (LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre’ Bembry, Bruce Brown, Jevon Carter, Nic Claxton, Durant, James Harden, Joe Harris, Kyrie Irving, James Johnson, Paul Millsap and Day’Ron Sharpe).
The Magic have been dealing with myriad absences as well, but with the Nets relying largely on inexperienced players and recent emergency signings, the Magic established a lead early and never gave it up.
This could be the start of a painful period for the Nets, as the team has three games on the schedule (Dec. 19 vs. Denver, Dec. 21 vs. Washington, Dec. 23 at Portland) before a Christmas Day showdown in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
Here’s what fans and analysts were saying about Saturday’s loss.