The Brooklyn Nets suffer the worst loss in franchise history, losing to the Los Angeles Clippers 126-67

As I type this very sentence, the Brooklyn Nets trail the Los Angeles Clippers 118-57. That is a deficit of 61 points.

I probably should have started writing this recap before the middle of the fourth quarter, but I’ve been completely confused by the sheer loss Brooklyn is showing. It’s sickly fun.

Look, it doesn’t matter. A loss is a loss – although my heart aches for the players on the field, they deserve it as much as they can…

Oklahoma City holds the dubious record of worst loss in NBA history. a 73-point blowout at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2021. Just a year and a half later, OKC was in the Play-In Tournament. Two seasons later, they won a playoff series and came close to winning more. Three seasons later, right now, they have an NBA-best record of 33-6.

The Brooklyn Nets have none of that to look forward to after Wednesday night’s shellacking, the final margin of defeat 59 points. None of it is guaranteed, they have to earn it even if they have the assets to do so. A losing season is the right choice, even if it involves some historic losses like this.

However, Wednesday’s historic defeat followed directly after one win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. That game was a rolling display of shots and transition offense as a Nets team featuring D’Angelo Russell, Cam Johnson and Ben Simmons — all recently or recently back from injury — led Brooklyn to 132 points. It was a much-needed breather after a five-game losing streak.

After a short flight to LA and a quick night’s sleep, it was left to lose and all three of these players would be absent.

The Nets had no chance, even though it was 21-21 after the first quarter. Low score, right? Wrong. It was Brooklyn’s highest scoring quarter of the night. Jordi Fernández’s team briefly led 25-24 early in the second, and then…a 102-42 run by LA, I think.

Brooklyn was tired and, in their injured state, far less offensively talented than any NBA team has any right to be. Sure, they shot 5-of-27 from three, a pitiful 18.5%, but they only got ten attempts in the first half. A team of players who weren’t supposed to carry NBA offenses alone were forced to, but even by those standards they played poorly. And they were tired.

And Kawhi Leonard scored his first 20-point game of the season for the Clips, and Bones Hyland and Kai Jones spent the entire fourth quarter fooling around and throwing lobs all over the court. And Ivica Zubac pushed Nic Claxton into a closet. And Noah Clowney was kicked out…

Jalen Wilson scored at least 15 points to lead the way.

When midnight struck on the East Coast, it marked the four-year anniversary of James Harden’s debut with the Brooklyn Nets. He hasn’t been with the team in nearly three years and scored 21 points against them Wednesday night. In three years, this loss will exist exclusively on Basketball Reference as Cooper Flagg and Giannis Antetokounmpo attempt to bring Brooklyn their second straight title. Otherwise they will still stink. Who knows?

The last time Brooklyn lost by 50, the head coach was fired. It won’t happen this time.

Jordi Fernández wasn’t angry after the loss, he didn’t threaten playing time or beat his fist on the podium: “It’s one of those days you know you’re not doing something right. You don’t have the right energy and togetherness, but you try and you just need a little more focus and all these things… I’m proud of this group of guys and I know they show up and work the next day . So that’s all we can do right now is to have a positive but also a competitive mindset.”

People will clown the Nets, as they should. Los Angeles handed them their worst loss in franchise history and the worst loss in the NBA this season. There is half a season left. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. There’s always another game tomorrow. Is it good news or bad news?

“The energy and the competitive spirit weren’t there, quite simply. But right now, all I can do is support my guys. It’s never a good experience to go through this, but analyzing the whole season, none of our guys who work for this and they’ve been competing the whole time. So all I can do is support them, of course own this as well, and show up the next day and try to get better.” — Jordi Fernandez

Final score: Los Angeles Clippers 126, Brooklyn Nets 67

Injury update

Ben Simmons missed the game with injury maintenance, making it the second night of a back-to-back.

D’Angelo Russell, despite playing in Portland, missed Wednesday’s game with what Brooklyn referred to as “right shin contusion/left hamstring tightness,” a bit concerning since hamstring tightness hasn’t been listed before.

However, Cam Johnson missed the game, not with injury maintenance or a new injury, but again with a right ankle sprain. Jordi Fernández told the media pregame that Johnson had it blocked again in the first half on Tuesday, but punched through to end the game anyway. Something to monitor going forward.

Next up

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Brooklyn Nets stay in Los Angeles (donate here) to take on the Lakers and a few old friends. Tip-off is scheduled for Friday evening at 10:30 p.m. ET.