3 Nets takeaways from 115-103 NBA Cup loss to 76ers

The Brooklyn Nets (3-15) went into the Thanksgiving break with one of their more disappointing losses of the season along with the fact they had been eliminated from the NBA Cup. Brooklyn had yet another chance of winning their first home game of the 2025-26 season against the Philadelphia 76ers (10-8), but the Nets weren't able to seize the opportunity.

The Nets lost to the 76ers 115-103 despite the fact that they came back from a 21-point deficit to single digits thanks to a better shooting effort in the second half. Rookie guard Egor Demin had a splash performance with 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two blocks while forward Noah Clowney had 16 points and seven rebounds in what he had been a struggle for him shooting the ball.

The Nets came into this game without the services of forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Cam Thomas for the first time this season and Brooklyn understandably struggled as they shot just 40.0% from the field. Brooklyn will have to turn around and get ready for their matchup on Saturday, but here's three takeaways from Friday's NBA Cup loss to the 76ers:

Egor Demin Breaks Out

Heading into halftime, this appeared to be one of those games where Nets rookie guard Egor Demin would struggle to keep up with the likes of Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes over the course of the contest. However, Demin scored all 23 of his points in the second half and did it in a way where it seems that many more onlookers are convinced now more than ever that he will be worth the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft sooner than later.

Tyrese Martin Continues Steady Play Off Bench

It's been awhile since Martin started a game for the Nets now that head coach Jordi Fernandez has landed on rookie guard Egor Demin as the starting point guard, but Martin has adapted well to his role coming off the bench. After dropping 16 points and two assists in Friday's loss to the 76ers, Martin has now scored at least 16 points in three of his last six games, providing more scoring output than he was expected to coming into this season.

Nets Offense Struggles Without Michael Porter Jr.

Friday marked the first time this season that the Nets didn't have Porter or guard Cam Thomas available at the same time and understandably, the Nets struggled to consistently create good offense. Due to a combination of Philadelphia switching from man to zone throughout the game and being able to provide pressure at the point of attack, Brooklyn shot just 40.0% from the field and 30.0% from three-point land, one of the worst shooting performances by the team this season.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 3 Nets takeaways from 115-103 NBA Cup loss to 76ers