NBA Twitter reacts to the short-handed Nets’ loss to the Magic
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.
A total of 17 players are available for tonight's Magic-Nets game. pic.twitter.com/GBHrP3cmB7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2021
The Nets now have 10 players in the protocols, including Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Nic Claxton is also sitting out tonight with wrist soreness. That’s 11 players who won’t be available tonight against Orlando.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 18, 2021
The Nets’ Christmas Day lineup: pic.twitter.com/dkbn8nDQKk
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) December 18, 2021
MIKE BREEN: “hello and welcome to The Crypto Center, where Kent Bazemore’s Lakers play host to Kessler Edwards and the Brooklyn Nets!”
MARK JACKSON: “with all due respect, this is an absolute travesty.”
JEFF VAN GUNDY: “do i put the bits of coins together? how does this work?”
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 18, 2021
DAVID
DUKE
JR.
💥💥💥 pic.twitter.com/lsQU8IbWQT— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 19, 2021
Cam Thomas ain’t scared, that’s for sure lol
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) December 19, 2021
Kessler Edwards is in 2k mode 😤pic.twitter.com/MYRfB6uoJy
— Nets Nation (@NetsNationCP) December 19, 2021
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