Sean Marks knew what he was stepping into when he all however admitted that the Brooklyn Nets had been going to tank the second half of this season. Nevertheless, Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers confirmed simply how ugly this course of can get.
Brooklyn fell 126-67 at Intuit Dome, the most important margin of defeat in franchise historical past (beforehand 52), and tied for tenth in NBA historical past.
The Nets led 25-24 early within the second quarter, however had been outscored 102-42 for the remainder of the sport. They shot 25 of 83 (30%) from the sphere and 5 of 28 (18%) from three with 15 assists and 20 turnovers. Their 67 factors are the third lowest by a group within the final 10 years.
“Whenever you see a loss like that, loads of issues went unsuitable,” stated head coach Jordi Fernandez. “The power and the aggressive spirit weren’t there, pure and easy. However for now, the one factor I can do is help my guys. It is by no means a very good expertise to undergo that, however analyzing the entire season, none of our guys labored for that, they usually competed the entire time. So all I can do is help them, clearly personal it myself too, and present up the following day and attempt to be higher.
“It’s a kind of days the place you don’t do something proper. You do not have that good power and that good unity, however you attempt, and also you simply want a little bit extra focus, and all these issues… I am happy with this group of men, and I do know they are going to present up and work the following day. In order that’s all we will do in the intervening time is have a optimistic but additionally aggressive mindset.
The Nets had been with out Cam Johnson, D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons for the second night time of a row. Main scorer Cam Thomas additionally remained sidelined with a hamstring damage.
The historic loss comes after Brooklyn ended a five-game dropping streak with a 132-114 victory at Portland on Tuesday. With Johnson and Russell getting back from accidents towards the Path Blazers, the Nets shot 54.4 % from the sphere and scored 29 quick break factors, each season highs. Their 132 factors and 36 assists had been their greatest in regulation in 2024-25.
Nevertheless, Johnson and Russell returned to the bench on Wednesday on account of their accidents. Simmons did the identical, having not but been cleared to play consecutively.
Nets’ historic loss might be signal of issues to come back
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Brooklyn has signaled its dedication to a tank in latest weeks, buying and selling veterans Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith. Marks confirmed the group’s priorities in feedback earlier this week.
The Nets had been anticipated to guide the tank race for Cooper Flagg this season, getting into the yr with a projected 19.5 wins. Nevertheless, after a shock begin, they’re on the skin wanting in for a top-five choose. They entered the Los Angeles recreation in seventh place within the lottery rankingswho has a 32.0 % probability of getting a top-four choose and a 7.5 % probability of getting the No. 1 choose.
Brooklyn has some floor to make up if the objective is an honest probability at incomes a primary choice.
Given this, extra roster strikes might be on the horizon. Johnson is the following logical commerce candidate. The veteran wing is without doubt one of the most sought-after targets within the NBA and is predicted to carry a major return to the Nets. Brooklyn might look to unseat Russell after buying him from the Los Angeles Lakers, and it stays to be seen if Ben Simmons might be a buyout candidate.
As has been the case over the previous two weeks, the Nets is not going to rush any of their affect gamers again from damage. Younger prospects like Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Jalen Wilson and Tosan Evbuomwan will proceed to look to prolonged taking part in time as their major offensive choices.
That is the place Brooklyn finds itself after turning its consideration to a rebuild and reacquiring its first-round choose from the Houston Rockets this summer time. Though losses will hardly ever method Wednesday’s magnitude, many extra are on the horizon. However in contrast to Marks’ first rebuild, the losses will likely be rewarded on this yr’s draft lottery, the place the Nets might have an opportunity at a top-five end for the primary time in 15 years.
