WASHINGTON — Egor Dëmin has started the past four games for the Nets, but logged just seven second-half minutes Friday in Orlando.

Coach Jordi Fernández pulled the lottery pick at the end of a 25-5 Magic run, and went with veteran Tyrese Martin to steady the ship.

“At some point, what you’re trying to find is a group that gives you a run,” Fernández said. “It’s not just about one player. It’s about finding a group.

“Egor played against a very physical team; those minutes are extremely valuable. But it’s not just about the rookies. I know [reporters] ask me about the rookies all the time, but it’s everybody. … We got one percent better as a group [Friday], and that’s the most important thing.”

Dëmin struggled coming off the bench, averaging just 5.3 points and 2.6 assists on .333 shooting and .323 from deep.

But since entering the starting lineup because of Cam Thomas’ hamstring injury, the Russian rookie has blossomed.

Egor Dëmin drives to the basket during the Nets’ loss to the Magic on Nov. 14. NBAE via Getty Images

Dëmin enters Sunday’s game in Washington averaging 10.5 points and 4.3 assists as a starter, shooting 41.2 percent overall and 40.9 from behind the arc.

Michael Porter Jr. is one of just four players averaging at least 23 points, six rebounds and three 3s, joining Luka Doncic, Lauri Markkanen and James Harden.

He had 24 points, 11 boards and a career-high seven assists Friday in Orlando — but he was just 1 of 6 in the fourth quarter with some terrible shot selection.

“I’ve got to do a better job of creating some better offense for other guys and for myself, and not settle for really, really tough looks, especially in the fourth quarter,” Porter said.

Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 14, 2025 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NBAE via Getty Images

Nic Claxton has upped his production.

After averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and no blocks through the first four games, he’s bumped that up to 17.1 points, 7.8 boards, 4.1 dimes and 1.8 rejections in the past eight.

Still, Claxton remains underachieving on the defensive glass.

His 3.9 average isn’t enough for a starting center.

Nic Claxton grabs a rebound during the Nets’ loss to the Magic on Nov. 14. NBAE via Getty Images

“I’ve got to be better with that. Just got to be better on defensive rebounding, for sure. We’ve been struggling. I’ve been struggling. It’s definitely a point of emphasis,” Claxton said.

“Yeah, he has high standards for himself,” said Fernández. “Right now, it’s a team issue. I like that he puts it on himself because he has high standards. And I love it. I think that he just wants to be better.”

The White House has accused Alibaba — of which Nets team owner Joe Tsai is chairman and co-founder — of giving technological support to Chinese military operations against targets in the U.S., according to the Financial Times.

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A White House memo from President Donald Trump’s White House accused the e-commerce giant based in part on highly classified intelligence.

Alibaba denied the claims, and suggested they came from agents looking to undo strides the U.S. and China had made in thawing their trade war.

Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping met two weeks ago in South Korea.

“The assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false,” Alibaba said in a statement. “We question the motivation behind the anonymous leak, which the FT admits that they cannot verify. This malicious PR operation clearly came from a rogue voice looking to undermine President Trump’s recent trade deal with China.”