Nets cough up double-digit lead to Magic in most disappointing loss of young season

ORLANDO — The Nets turned their biggest lead of the season into their most galling loss of the year.Brooklyn squandered a huge cushion in the second quarter, and a late edge in the fourth, only to fall 105-98 to the Magic before 17,902 at Kia Center.The Nets had led by 16 points -— their biggest cushion of this tanking campaign — and by 98-94, before coughing up the final 11 points of the contest.Michael Porter Jr.had 24 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven assists — albeit only one after the first quarter — and no turnovers.

But the Nets got hammered 46-34 on the glass, with center Nic Claxton managing just four rebounds — and failing to get a huge one that led to a clutch Franz Wagner 3-point dagger in the waning moments.Wagner had a game-high 25 for the Magic, who closed on an 11-0 run.The NBA Cup defeat saw Brooklyn fall to a league-worst 1-11, keeping them tied with Indiana and Washington for the best odds in the lottery.The Wizards have lost 10 straight and seem to be gunning for the top lottery seed with a single-minded determination.

The Nets play in Washington on Sunday....