Nets take tanking to the next level, ending 10-year drought with this horrific stat

Story byAlex WalshThu, January 22, 2026 at 5:34 AM UTC·2 min readNets take tanking to the next level, ending 10-year drought with this horrific stat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Ever since the Nets decided to end an era in Brooklyn by trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the team has consistently been around the same area of the standings. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey're in lottery pick territory, but not quite top-pick territory, and it hasn't allowed them to get a breakthrough player that can put the franchise back on track. They have some promising rookies from the most recent draft, but Wednesday night's game was a clear sign that the team has a lot to work on before they can even become a fringe playoff team. Nets set mark for worst points total for a game in the last 10 yearsIn today's NBA, offense and pace are the name of the game. It's common and frankly expected to see teams score north of 100 points each night, and it's almost shocking when teams fail to hit the century mark. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThings were different even a decade ago, as defense, a slower pace, and an emphasis on the two-point shot were more prominent than they are now. Lower-scoring games were expected. MORE: Will the Nets trade Cam Thomas at the NBA trade deadline?However, the Nets made fans think that the clock was briefly turned back on Wednesday night, only scoring 66 points against the Knicks in a 66-120 loss. The Nets' total of 66 points was the least a team has scored in an NBA game since 2016, when the Mavericks scored 64 in a 64-80 loss to the Grizzlies. Going back a year further, the Bucks suffered a loss to the same scoreline that the Nets did against the Knicks, as Milwaukee lost 66-120 against the Bulls. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement66 points is the least amount of points the Nets have scored in a game since 2005, over 20 years ago. The Nets also set a team-worst on Wednesday night in an additional points-related stat, scoring only 28 points in the second half, which is the least the franchise has ever scored in a single half. More NBA news:Why Knicks fans will have to root for New York villain Trae Young if he becomes a WizardSteph Curry is approaching an unbreakable three-point career milestone that you can't even fathomWarriors targeting 6-foot-8 forward averaging 22 PPG this seasonBucks should trade for former No.