The Brooklyn Nets haven’t had the greatest summer thus far. Rather than the kind with trips to the beach, popsicles, and proficient Vegas basketball, it’s been one with sweltering humidity, bees in your red solo cup, limited offensive fluidity, and an 0-3 record.
Tonight, we got a much-needed switch up, as the Nets picked up their first win of the Summer League, beating the Orlando Magic by a 94-90 score.
Hints that this game would be different from its predecessors were visible almost from the start.
After a handful of rough possessions and traded trips to the free throw line, Egor Dëmin, who’s already been tagged as a guy who struggles to get to the rim, sure as hell got there to give Brooklyn its first lead of the game.
What a jam Egor Dëmin...no idea what Orlando defense was doing here. pic.twitter.com/NJBKCHn6NA
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) July 16, 2025
While Dëmin’s night was rather forgetful — until a handful of possessions at the very end you’ll probably watch over and over again until October — the lead was something Brooklyn maintained all night.
After getting strong early contributions from Tyrese Samuel, who put in eight points during the game’s first 12 minutes, the Nets jetted out to a 35-23 lead on Orlando. Samuel went onto finished with 10 points, three boards, and two steals. Quincy Olivari, who made a habit of feeding him in the first half, chipped in a 16/6/6 game.
Nice connection here between Olivari and Samuel pic.twitter.com/5FhuFfc4G6
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) July 16, 2025
Highlights aside, it was Brooklyn’s defense that had them up early, holding a 49-41 advantage at half even after an 11-2 run down the stretch of the second. Players looked more in-sync leveraging around around each other, blitzing and recovering in unison. Not having a Tyler Kolek to stretch the defense also played a factor, as the Magic shot just 38.5% from the field between the first two frames.
In fact, Orlando looked like a Vegas tourist at the table almost all night, trying their luck over and over again despite finding little to no success. By the time they found themselves on a heater, it was too late, as they posted .382/.325 splits for the game.
The Nets had an opposite experience — or what the Magic would surely call opposite luck if you ask them.
Tough make from Quincy Olivari to end the first.
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) July 17, 2025
Dre Davis came up with a steal off the inbound and hit one too but it was waived off. pic.twitter.com/qtZLtH5ZJV
The second half saw the Nets open up on a 14-2 run that pushed them in front by 20 roughly halfway through the third period. That lead didn’t budge until the final seconds of the quarter when Jaden Atkins hung for a tough finish nearly at the buzzer to make it a 69-51 lead for Brooklyn entering the fourth.
There, the Nets looked to start coasting a bit too early. The Magic went on an 19-3 run in the heart of the quarter, making it a 79-78 game with about four to play. Once the Magic started applying pressure, Brooklyn looked certain to fold, turning it over a handful of times and turning a few rushed possessions.
That was, until Egor Dëmin drew three straight threes to give his team the breathing room it needed to close things out.
Here's all three of Egor Dëmin's game saving triples vs the Magic. pic.twitter.com/oGqk3v77G3
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) July 17, 2025
The Nets missed a handful throws while the Magic cashed in on a few second chance points to keep things tight in the game’s waining minutes, but the Brooklyn eventually got to the finish line and their first win of the tournament.
Tosan Evbuomwan was the glue in Brooklyn’s winning effort, chipping in with a few buckets here and there to finish with 14 points, four rebounds, and five steals. Danny Wolf, however, led the team with 18 points, six boards, four dimes, and a block while shooting 6-12 from the field and 2-4 from deep.
On the other side, it was Wendell Moore Jr. and Noah Penda leading the way for Orlando, who each added 17 points and pulled down six rebounds. Old friend Alondes Williams was added 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and picked away four steals.
Injury Updates
Dëmin subbed out at one point in the second quarter and later returned wearing a shooting sleeve. The NBA TV broadcast noted it and said that he got some “medical attention” but didn’t elaborate any further.
Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf did not play tonight, but that was expected with the team looking to avoid putting their guys in back-to-backs with each playing last night. The same goes for Drew Timme. Tyson Etienne was held out tonight with an illness.
Next Up
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Candice Ward-Imagn ImagesBrooklyn’s fourth Summer League bout will be against the Philadelphia 76ers scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET tipoff. For those of you who spent the February-to-April months making V.J. Edgecombe Nets photoshops, look away.
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