The Nets were without their veteran leader after Thanksgiving.
Dennis Schroder missed the team's 123-100 loss to the Magic on Friday night at Barclays Center due to personal reasons.
He shined during the final two games of the Nets' recent four-game road trip, scoring 31 and 29 points in wins over the Warriors and Suns, respectively.
He's 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 scheduled to be a free agent after the season.
Nick Claxton missed the previous two games with a lower back injury and entered Friday's game questionable, but played 26 minutes in the loss and scored eight points and seven rebounds.
Claxton recently said his back would have to be turned all season, but coach Jordi Fernandez provided a positive update ahead of the game.
“We will manage it,” Fernandez said. “The good news is that everything was clean. We will need to do a certain kind of work with him. Other than that, we are very happy that he can trust the process and continue working and be 100% in terms of fitness and now he has a rhythm. I know that when You walk in and out, you don't see the best of yourself…soon, he'll be the best version of himself.
Friday's game was the Nets' last in the NBA Cup, as they were eliminated before the game after the Hawks' victory over the Cavaliers.
The Nets praised the physicality of Magic.
The Magic recorded 11 offensive rebounds, while the Nets were satisfied with only five rebounds. The Magic also had 13 steals to the Nets' five.
“Their athleticism, their size, everything, bothered us,” Fernandez said. “We were slow in our physical abilities. …And you pay the price for that.
Tyrese Martin, under a two-way contract, made his first career start in a loss on Friday after notching 30 points in a win over the Suns on Wednesday.
But he came back to earth with only eight points.
This was the sixth straight game in which the Nets used a different starting lineup.
