In the unpredictable world of sports, fans crave the thrill of a hard-fought battle that comes down to the final seconds. Yet every so often, we witness a game so lopsided, it leaves us stunned and wondering, “How is this even possible?” On January 15, 2025, the NBA community experienced one such jaw-dropping spectacle as the LA Clippers steamrolled the Brooklyn Nets in a 126-67 massacre.
A Night for the Record Books
The 59-point margin of victory set new records for both franchises involved. For the triumphant Clippers, it marked their most dominant win ever, surpassing their previous best of 50 points. On the flip side, the shellshocked Nets suffered the worst loss in team history, a bitter pill to swallow for the proud organization.
But in the grand scheme of NBA history, where does this beatdown rank? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and relive some of the most astonishing blowouts ever witnessed on the hardwood.
The 70+ Club
Sitting atop the list of all-time drubbings is the Memphis Grizzlies’ unfathomable 73-point annihilation of the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 2, 2021. The 152-79 final score looked more like a football result than an NBA contest. This remains the gold standard for one-sided affairs, a record that may never be touched.
Cavaliers Crush Heat
Rewind to December 17, 1991, when the Cleveland Cavaliers obliterated the Miami Heat 148-80, a 68-point thrashing. This stands as the second-largest victory margin ever, a testament to the Cavs’ relentless attack and the Heat’s utter collapse.
Pacers Pummel Trail Blazers
On February 27, 1998, the Indiana Pacers delivered a 65-point drubbing to the Portland Trail Blazers, prevailing 124-59. It was a night to forget for the Blazers, who simply had no answer for the Pacers’ onslaught.
Showtime Lakers Run Wild
The iconic 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, led by Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, put on a clinic against the hapless Golden State Warriors on March 19, 1972. The 162-99 beatdown, a 63-point margin, showcased the “Showtime” Lakers at their absolute peak.
Warriors, Thunder Join the 60+ Club
Two more recent entries in the 60+ point club are the Warriors’ 62-point decimation of the Kings in 1991 and the Thunder’s equally impressive 62-point rout of the Trail Blazers in 2024. These games serve as reminders that even in the modern era, epic blowouts are always a possibility.
Destruction by the Dozen
Using a 60-point threshold, a dozen games throughout NBA history qualify as all-time shellackings:
- 62 points: Syracuse Nationals 162, New York Knicks 100 (1960)
- 61 points: Charlotte Hornets 140, Memphis Grizzlies 79 (2018)
- 60 points: Miami Heat 142, Portland Trail Blazers 82 (2024)
- 59 points: Milwaukee Bucks 143, Detroit Pistons 84 (1978)
- 59 points: Golden State Warriors 150, Indiana Pacers 91 (1977)
The latest addition to this dubious list, the Clippers’ 59-point smackdown of the Nets, now shares a place in history with some of the most stunning offensive explosions and defensive meltdowns ever seen.
Blowouts on the Biggest Stage
Even the NBA Finals, the pinnacle of competition, have produced some breathtaking blowouts over the years. Who could forget the Chicago Bulls’ 42-point Game 1 thumping of the Utah Jazz in the 1998 Finals, or the Boston Celtics’ 39-point rout of the Los Angeles Lakers in the memorable 2008 championship series?
“There’s nothing quite as demoralizing as getting run off your own floor in the Finals. It can completely change the momentum of a series.”
– Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen
Lessons Learned
While blowouts of this magnitude are rare, they serve as stark reminders of the vast gulf that can exist between teams on any given night. The beauty of basketball lies in its unpredictability, the ever-present potential for David to slay Goliath. But when Goliath brings his A-game and David forgets how to sling a stone, the results can be downright frightening.
For the victors, these games become the stuff of legend, retold for generations as a testament to their dominance. For the vanquished, they become painful memories etched into franchise lore, the kind of embarrassment that lingers long after the final buzzer sounds.
In the end, whether you’re on the winning or losing side of a historic beatdown, one truth endures: On any given night, anything is possible in the NBA. The Clippers and Nets just happened to find themselves on opposite ends of that spectrum on a fateful January evening. Only time will tell where their 59-point margin lands in the annals of basketball history.
