In a jaw-dropping display of dominance, the LA Clippers obliterated the Brooklyn Nets 126-67 on Wednesday night, setting a new franchise record for margin of victory. The 59-point drubbing also marked the worst loss in Nets history, surpassing a 52-point defeat from 1978.
The Clippers, fueled by Kawhi Leonard’s return from injury, wasted no time asserting their superiority. Leonard poured in 23 points in just 24 minutes, while James Harden chipped in 21, as LA raced out to a 58-35 halftime lead.
But the onslaught was just beginning. The Clippers opened the third quarter with a blistering 29-3 run, stretching the lead to an unfathomable 51 points. By the end of the period, LA’s advantage had ballooned to 102-51, prompting coach Tyronn Lue to empty his bench.
Nets Helpless Against Clippers’ Onslaught
Brooklyn, to put it mildly, had no answers. Jalen Wilson’s team-high 16 points provided little resistance as the Nets shot a paltry 30.5% from the field, including a dismal 5-of-27 from beyond the arc. The Clippers, by contrast, scorched the nets at a 54.4% clip.
The Nets’ futility was encapsulated by Noah Clowney’s fourth-quarter ejection after picking up his second technical foul. By that point, LA’s lead had swelled to an astonishing 64 points, rendering the game’s final minutes a mere formality.
It was just one of those nights where everything seemed to go right for us and wrong for them. We never let up, even with the big lead.
Kawhi Leonard on the historic win
The victory served notice that the Clippers, with a healthy Leonard, remain a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Nets’ fifth loss in six games raised fresh questions about their ability to compete with the NBA’s elite.
Key Stats and Takeaways:
- Largest margin of victory in Clippers franchise history (59 points)
- Worst loss ever for the Nets, surpassing 52-point defeat in 1978
- Clippers shoot 54.4% from field; Nets just 30.5%
- Kawhi Leonard scores 23 points in 24 minutes in 4th game back from injury
The Clippers will look to build on this momentum as they visit Portland on Thursday night. The shell-shocked Nets, meanwhile, remain in Los Angeles for a Friday night date with the Lakers, hoping to regain some semblance of respectability.
But for one night at least, the Clippers reigned supreme, authoring a beatdown for the ages that won’t soon be forgotten. In the battle of NBA royalty versus rebuilding, it was no contest. On this night, LA’s other team proved it still has the firepower to demolish anyone in its path.
