The Brooklyn Nets have lost four games in a row over the past week, keeping them at 13th place in the National Basketball Association’s Eastern Conference. The Nets are ranked fifth on Tankathon with a 10.5% chance at the number one pick. The Nets are still in good standing with a top-5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the tanking could lead to a future superstar. Jordi Fernandez’s team now hold a record of 11-26.
Banchero Shuts Down Brooklyn With Clutch 3-Pointer
The Brooklyn Nets lost 104 to 103 in a nail-biting loss to the Orlando Magic. The Nets lose out on a close game after a 3-pointer by Paolo Banchero at the buzzer in an overtime loss. It was Banchero who led the Magic with 30 points, with Wendell Carter Jr’s 20 points, Tristan da Silva with 14, and Noah Penda’s 13 points that also helped lead the way to victory.
Egor Demin made some great plays offensively with a 3-pointer to take the lead, along with a 3-pointer at the Nets’ next offensive possession to bring them back up. Unfortunately, Banchero’s shot sealed the win for Orlando, adding a loss for Brooklyn. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets in scoring with his 34 points, and Demin with 18.
A heartbreaking loss by Brooklyn brought about some shine with Egor Demin late in the fourth quarter. His attempted comeback showed that he had the capabilities to play in clutch moments and nearly won the game for them. Despite the loss, Demin’s performance was the highlight for Brooklyn, as well as another 30-plus point performance by Porter Jr.
Clippers Put On Offensive Clinic Against Inexperienced Nets
Los Angeles Clippers’ stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard shone offensively with 31 and 26 points, respectively, to hand Brooklyn their second straight loss. Jordan Miller had himself a night, making his first six shots and finishing with 21 points, and John Collins had 16 points.
Demin led the team with 19 points, but his efforts were not enough. Porter Jr. led in 2nd in scoring for Brooklyn with 18 points, but missed all his attempted 3-pointers for the night.
The Clippers created offensive run after offensive run throughout the game, building an insurmountable lead for Brooklyn to overcome. The Clippers started hot with a 16-2 run, led by Harden, who scored six of their 16 points. Los Angeles kept scoring and kept the game out of reach, with Leonard and Harden having an offensive clinic against the inexperienced Brooklyn Nets’ rookies.
The Nets struggled with Cam Thomas on the court and looked to have thrown off the rhythm of the young guys. Thomas’ isolation play looked to do more harm than good for the team, and could be costly in the future.
While Thomas can turn it on and be a great offensive threat, his style of play may not be a good fit for Brooklyn, and they could be on their way to moving Thomas this offseason despite paying him the qualifying offer.
Brooklyn Fails To Hold On Against Memphis Grizzlies
The Brooklyn Nets let go when it mattered most in a 103 to 98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nets had their lead taken away from them again after two late 3-pointers by Cedric Coward put the Grizzlies up with the lead to win the game.
The Nets were up 98 to 90 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, when the Grizzlies mounted an offensive run. The Nets had no answers for Memphis, going scoreless and allowing a 13 to 0 run by Memphis to retake the lead and win the game.
While the Nets did climb back from a 16-point deficit in the second half, they could not hold on to their lead and suffered their third straight loss. It was Clowney who led the Nets with 17 points, with Danny Wolf behind with 11. Off the bench, Tyrese Martin had 17 points, and Jalen Wilson had 11 points.
One thing Nets’ head coach Jordi Fernandez pointed out was that the Nets had only five free-throw attempts in the half, compared to Memphis’ 14. While the tanking continues for Brooklyn, the team looked lost defensively, allowing Memphis to pull away and take the win. While the loss is beneficial for now, the Nets must learn to work on holding leads and maintaining momentum on both sides of the ball, especially after cutting a deficit to create a lead of their own.
Nets Keep It Close Against Cooper Flagg, Dallas
The Nets lost a tight game after nearly clawing back in a 113 to 105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. It was rookie sensation Cooper Flagg who showed out with 27 points and a season-high of three steals for Dallas. Naji Marshall had 22 points, and Klay Thompson finished with 18 points off the bench with six 3-pointers for a season-high.
Porter Jr. led the Nets with 28 points, while Day’Ron Sharpe had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Nets found their groove offensively late when they cut a 14-point deficit to bring the game to within four points with five minutes remaining in the game. The Mavericks still held their own defensively and prevented the Nets from taking the lead, giving Brooklyn their fourth straight loss.
The tough loss came with some bright spots, with great highlights from Sharpe, who carried the Nets throughout the first half. This game also showed the importance of Demin’s skillset and presence on the court, bringing the team together and playing well to make his teammates better.
What’s Next For The Nets
The Brooklyn Nets’ tanking continues with their four straight losses. While a win would be great for morale, the race to get a top pick in the 2026 off-season is on. The rookies are doing a good job of gelling together as a squad and playing well when things are going well. Cam Thomas may not be a Net for long, as his style of play has thrown off the rhythm of the Nets, who are focusing more on team-oriented basketball rather than ‘iso play’.
The Nets could move Cam Thomas at the trade deadline, and may perhaps keep Michael Porter Jr. instead. Porter Jr. has proven himself to be an All-Star and is meshing better with the team than Thomas is. Thomas is a great player who can be a great offensive threat, but it’s likely that his style of play may not be the style that Jordi Fernandez is looking to keep in the coming years.
