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The Orlando White team, one of two summer league teams assembled by the home team, didn't have their best players on Thursday, but it didn't matter. The Nets fell once again, losing this time, 65-58, at the Magic's practice court.
For the Whites, it meant a championship game Friday. For the Nets, it meant one more game Friday at 4 p.m. and looking forward to Las Vegas and the NBA Summer League which starts Saturday. The roster will change. Willie Reed could very well travel to Vegas after the Nets signed him on Thursday to a vets minimum deal. Khem Birch and Steven Gray, two members of the Nets squad, left the team before the game. Birch a 6'9" shot blocker has a deal waiting for him in Turkey.
The game was close, but it wasn't because of the Nets shooting. Once again, the black-and-while couldn't break 60 points, shooting a miserable 31 percent overall and 19 percent from three. There were some bright lights. Markel Brown scored 11 points, on 4-of-10 shooting and 2-of-6 from deep. Ryan Boatright had two more, shooting 2-of-8, but going to the line nine times, making eight of them. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson hit only 2-of-8 overall, but grabbed 12 boards, handed out three assists and stole the ball twice. And former Spurs farmhand Jonathan Simmons continued his solid play with 12 points.
Lionel Hollins was on hand again and did an interview with the NBA TV hosts during the game, talking about a wide range of subjects, including Reed, the signing of Wayne Ellington, the team's five point guards and his son, Austin, who he hinted didn't get as much time on the court as he'd have liked ... as a father.