Nets get embarrassed in Los Angeles

Trail by as many as 64 in historic loss to Clippers

January 16, 2025 By John Torenli, Sports Editor

Nets coach Jordi Fernández could hardly believe how poorly his players performed during the worst loss in franchise history Wednesday. AP Photo by Mark J. Terrill

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The Brooklyn Nets followed their best offensive performance of the season with the worst loss in franchise history Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Shorthanded and fatigued, Brooklyn suffered the embarrassment of its lowest-scoring first half of the year before really stinking the joint out during a humiliating 126-67 defeat to the Clippers in front of 13,091 fans at the Intuit Dome.

“Obviously, the energy and competitive spirit was not there, plain and simple. It’s never a good experience to go through this,” ceded frustrated Nets coach Jordi Fernández after his team fell to 1-3 on this six-game West Coast trip.

Buoyed by the return of previously ailing veterans Cam Johnson and D’Angelo Russell in Portland only 24 hours earlier, the Nets (14-27) shot the lights out en route to a 132-114 triumph over the Trail Blazers to end a season-high five-game losing streak.

After playing the Clippers (22-17) to a 21-21 draw through the first 12 minutes, Brooklyn only managed 14 second-quarter points and was even worse after intermission.

“You saw it, scoring 14 points, 16 and 16,” noted Fernández. “There’s no reason to deflect anything. I know our guys are competitors and fighers. We’re going to get better.

“All I can do is support them and obviously own this myself as well. Show up the next day and try to do better. It’s not fun,” he added.

Trailing 58-35 at halftime, the Nets looked helpless as Los Angeles went on a 17-0 run to open the third quarter and buried Brooklyn even further thereafter, opening a 102-49 cushion on Mo Bamba’s free throws with 16.1 ticks left in the period.

While Johnson and Russell took the night off after starring in Tuesday night’s win due to load management issues, Ben Simmons (back) and Trendon Watford (hamstring) also were forced to sit.

Still waiting for leading scorer Cam Thomas to return from his hamstring injury, the Nets looked dumbfounded with the ball as they bumbled their way through a humbling third quarter that saw them get outscored by 28 points.

Day’Ron Sharpe’s double-double was the only bright spot during a humbling and historic loss by Brooklyn in Los Angeles. AP Photo by Mark J. Terrill

Bones Hyland’s step-back 3-pointer with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter put Brooklyn down 121-57, a 64-point deficit that further displayed just how hapless the Nets were on a night they hoped to build off their first win in 10 days.

None of the Brooklyn’s starters scored in double figures after the Nets had seven players put up at least 10 against the Blazers.

“The frustration is there,” Fernandez said as Brooklyn eclipsed its previous franchise-worst loss, a 52-point defeat in Houston on Oct. 18, 1978.

The Nets hadn’t been held to as few as 67 points since April 26, 2012 during their final season in New Jersey.

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and former Net James Harden added 21 for the Clippers, who posted their largest margin of victory ever and remained one-half game ahead of the rival L.A. Lakers for the top spot in the Pacific Division.

“They’re really good defensively,” Fernandez admitted. “Their players (are) superstars and Hall of Famers. They make it (look) so easy.”

After strutting their way to season bests of 54% shooting (49-of-90) and 29 fast break points in Portland, the Nets made 30% (25-for-83) of their attempts, including 5-of-28 from beyond the arc, and yielded 28 points off turnovers.

Jalen Wilson scored 16 points and fellow reserve Day’Ron Sharpe added 12 points and 14 rebounds for Brooklyn, which will visit the Lakers (21-17) on Friday.

But not before Fernández and his staff go through the gruesome tape of what went wrong against the Clippers while his players take a break.

“Tomorrow is going to be off and obviously come back (Friday) with a lot of energy and be excited to play a basketball game,” the rookie coach revealed.

Tip-off at crypto.com Arena Friday is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.

Noah Clowney looks dejected following his ejection from Wednesday’s 59-point loss in Los Angeles to the Clippers. AP Photo by Mark J. Terrill

NOTHING BUT NET: Second-year forward Noah Clowney showed his frustration during Wednesday’s harrowing loss, getting ejected in the fourth quarter on his second technical foul of the night after managing only four points four points on 1-of-6 shooting. … Rui Hachimura scored 23 points and Anthony Davis and LeBron James added 22 apiece Wednesday as the Lakers beat visiting Miami, 117-108. L.A. snapped a three-game losing streak, and will be out to avenge a 130-112 loss to the visiting Nets last Jan. 19. The Lakers did beat the Nets in Brooklyn to earn a split of last year’s season series with a 116-104 triumph on March 31 behind 40 points from James. … After finishing off this extended sojourn Sunday in Oklahoma City, the Nets will return to Barclays Center on Tuesday to host the New York Knicks.