Nets’ red-hot Dennis Schroder did not play due to personal reasons
The Nets were without their veteran leader after Thanksgiving.
Dennis Schroder missed the team’s 123-100 loss to the Magic Friday night at Barclays Center due to personal reasons.
He had thrived during the last two games of the Nets’ recent four-game road trip, scoring 31 and 29 points in wins over the Warriors and Suns, respectively.
He had been enjoying a career season, entering Friday averaging 18.6 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from deep along with 6.3 assists per game.
He is set to be a free agent after the season.
Nic Claxton missed the previous two games to manage a lower back injury and entered Friday’s game as questionable, but he played 26 minutes in the loss and recorded eight points and seven rebounds.
Claxton said recently his back would have to be managed throughout the season, but head coach Jordi Fernandez gave a positive update before the game.
“We’re gonna manage it,” Fernandez said. “The good news was that everything was clean. We’re gonna need to put a certain kind of work in with him. Other than that, we’re very happy that he can trust the process and keep working and just be 100 percent as far as being in shape and now having a rhythm. I know being in and out, you don’t see the best of yourself. … Soon enough, he’ll be the best version of himself.”
Friday’s game was the Nets’ last in the NBA Cup, as they were eliminated before tip-off after the Hawks beat the Cavaliers.
The Nets lauded the Magic’s physicality.
The Magic recorded 11 offensive rebounds, while the Nets tallied just five. The Magic also had 13 steals to the Nets’ five.
“Their physicality, their size, everything bothered us,” Fernandez said. “We were a step slow with our physicality. … And you pay for it.”
Tyrese Martin, on a two-way contract, made the first start of his career in Friday’s loss after erupting for 30 points during the win over the Suns on Wednesday.
He came back to earth with just eight points, though.
It marked the sixth straight game the Nets used a different starting lineup.