Demin's improbable scoring spree erased an 18-point deficit, but Banchero's last-second shot ultimately sealed the Nets' fate in a thrilling overtime clash.
The Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic put on an unforgettable show in Barclays Center on Wednesday night, as the Magic stole the game on a Paolo Banchero game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded in overtime.
Though Michael Porter Jr., Egor Dëmin and the Nets fell in an incredible fashion, their gritty, never-say-die attitude was put on full display.
Porter Jr. finished with 34 points, five rebounds, three steals and eight three's made, but the story of the night wound up being Dëmin's late-game perfection.
Leading up to overtime, the Nets' offensive struggles were clear to see. Following the conclusion of the first half, Orlando led 48-43 over a Brooklyn scoring unit managing a 37.2% shooting clip from the floor and 24.0% accuracy from three-point range. Outside of Porter Jr., the rest of the Nets went 2-for-17 from distance in the half.
The third quarter was much of the same, and the Magic were able to build a 79-64 advantage. In fact, Brooklyn's 64 points was their lowest output through three quarters of a game so far this season.
However, the Nets were able to storm back in incredible fashion, cutting the Magic's lead to just eight points after Dëmin was fouled on a three-pointer with 3:22 remaining in the contest, making the score 89-81 by hitting two of his three attempts from the stripe.
Those were the first two points of Dëmin's night, but they'd be far from his last.
Several high-level defensive rotations and stops at the rim later, the Nets further cut the lead to 91-88 on a Dëmin three-point hit, followed by a tough fading Noah Clowney jumper over Orlando's Wendell Carter Jr. to make it 91-90 while extending a late 17-4 run.
Clowney received yet another chance to come through in the clutch as he hit an absurd push shot with 23.3 seconds left after another huge stop, but a Day'Ron Sharpe offensive interference call wiped it away.
After a Magic bucket to make the score 93-90, Brooklyn's Sharpe redeemed himself by flying in for a key offensive rebound following a Porter Jr. three-point try. A beat later he'd dish the ball to a wide-open Dëmin, who'd knock down a three on the right wing to tie the score at 93 and drive the Barclays Center crowd into a frenzy.
The Nets had stormed all the way back and erased a, 18-point fourth quarter deficit to send the game into overtime after Banchero missed on his chance to win the game with a deep shot at the buzzer, and Dëmin was just getting started.
The Magic opened the OT period with two quick buckets, but a Dëmin three-point hit over Anthony Black brought the Nets back to within one at 97-96. A few plays later, Dëmin sizes up Carter Jr. on the left wing before pulling a shot from long range over the outreached arms of the Magic center -- Cash. Nets lead 100-99, their first advantage since the first quarter.
A dunk from Carter Jr. off of a slick Banchero feed helped Orlando retake the lead again, but Dëmin's night wasn't over yet.
Down by one point, time winding down, Dëmin receives a screen and welcomes a switch to land another matchup with Carter Jr. Dribbling to his left, the Russian rookie throws up an impossible, high-arching three that falls off glass. 103-101. Barclays Center loses its collective mind.
Dëmin's latest incomprehensible hit from long range gives him 18 points, all of which were scored since the 3:22 mark of the fourth quarter, including all 10 of the Nets' points in overtime.
Then...Banchero struck. In an effort to one-up Dëmin, Banchero took a few dribbles left after receiving the inbound pass, heaves his own desperation three towards the rim for it to fall at the buzzer, off glass. Magic win, and Banchero finishes with 30 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
In an instant, a remarkable stretch of shot-making was reduced to a solid effort in a tough loss. Or, was it?
Despite the Magic escaping with the victory, Dëmin's marvelous night should be remembered by Nets fans for a long, long time. If anything, this game could be referred to as his coming out party in the near future.
After going scoreless until the clock hit 3:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, Dëmin finished the night with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and one of the most memorable single-game performances in recent Nets history.