Nets Collapse in LA: Clippers Expose Brooklyn’s Leadership Crisis

Paul Riverbank, 1/26/2026From dominant Clippers to faltering Nets, and NFL near-misses to Spurs’ growing pains, the week’s action underscores a truth: in sports, every moment and decision can tip the balance of a season. Execution and resolve—more than reputation—are defining contenders and exposing the rest.

Numbers sometimes lie, but tonight they only amplified what eyes already knew. Brooklyn shot like a team fishing in a fog: clanking their way to 28 percent in the first half, not much improved by game’s end. Nine threes on 43 attempts won’t win many nights. The Nets now drag around a four-game losing streak—thirteen losses in fifteen outings is a tough pill. If the Clippers’ last matchup in L.A. was a 59-point cakewalk, this was a slightly less embarrassing echo, but the message stayed the same: these teams occupy separate solar systems right now.

On the Clipper side, you sense a squad just starting to trust its flow. Eight wins in their last nine, effortless ball movement, and not a hint of ego when it comes to sharing the load. There’s palpable swagger, the sense of a group that’s started to see itself the way the league’s heavyweights do.

Brooklyn, meanwhile, looked emotionally spent—a team running on fumes after nearly toppling the Celtics in double overtime only days earlier. It’s as if whatever fuel remained got left in Boston; Sunday offered more evidence for doubters. Danny Wolf and Egor Demin, a pair of relatively anonymous faces, led scoring—never a sign your night’s going to end well when the household names fade. The numbers—14 and 12 for Wolf and Demin—suggest effort, but offer little hope for turning around a season gone sideways.

Skip across the country and you find the NFL’s own brand of drama. The Seahawks—still with playoff ambitions—almost sabotaged themselves with a moment of youthful exuberance: Riq Woolen couldn’t resist celebrating a big stop with some extra talk, drawing a costly taunting penalty. Suddenly, L.A.’s drive was alive again and a touchdown followed, leaving Woolen the focus of harsh words both on the sideline and across social media. Seattle survived, barely, and the lesson—mistakes can cost dearly—was etched as sharply as any late-game fumble.

But victory doesn’t erase poor execution. Take the Spurs, who seemed poised to claw back against New Orleans. Victor Wembanyama posted an eye-catching stat line—16 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks—but was repeatedly battered inside by Pelicans muscle. Every time San Antonio sniffed a comeback, Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey—each with their own double-double—slammed the door. For every flicker of promise from the Spurs’ bench, another free throw bricked or a forced shot spun out. By the final horn, New Orleans had answered every run, gradually draining the hope out of a young team’s comeback bid.

It’s at this point in both leagues—the grind before the playoff sprint—that teams show their true character. The Clippers, finally healthy and in sync, look like a squad ready to make real noise. Brooklyn, in contrast, seems out of answers, waiting for something—anything—to spark a surge. The Seahawks know edges are razor-thin; no margin for unnecessary penalties. For the Spurs, the challenge is learning to finish, not just fight.

Next? The Nets go to Phoenix in desperate need of something to build on. L.A. carries its streak to Utah, their confidence as tangible as their stat sheets. The Spurs, bruised but not broken, head east. Here, the margin is slim, the stakes visible in every huddle and haggard coach’s expression. In both basketball and football, moments matter—sometimes the smallest swing decides whether a season endures or just fades out.

If ever there was a first half that made coming back a non-starter, Kawhi Leonard’s performance against Brooklyn provided the blueprint. By the break, he’d tallied 21 of his 28, as if to say the contest was over before anyone could blink twice. The Clippers weren’t just better—they seemed on a different timeline, already up by 38 as halftime buzzed through the arena. Leonard had company in this rout: James Harden added 19, John Collins found 18, and even rookie Jordan Miller chipped in 16—enough for all the stars to grab a few moments of spotlight. Throw in Ivica Zubac’s sturdy 11 points and 10 boards, and Los Angeles looked every bit the title contender their recent form suggests.Numbers sometimes lie, but tonight they only amplified what eyes already knew. Brooklyn shot like a team fishing in a fog: clanking their way to 28 percent in the first half, not much improved by game’s end. Nine threes on 43 attempts won’t win many nights. The Nets now drag around a four-game losing streak—thirteen losses in fifteen outings is a tough pill. If the Clippers’ last matchup in L.A. was a 59-point cakewalk, this was a slightly less embarrassing echo, but the message stayed the same: these teams occupy separate solar systems right now.On the Clipper side, you sense a squad just starting to trust its flow. Eight wins in their last nine, effortless ball movement, and not a hint of ego when it comes to sharing the load. There’s palpable swagger, the sense of a group that’s started to see itself the way the league’s heavyweights do.Brooklyn, meanwhile, looked emotionally spent—a team running on fumes after nearly toppling the Celtics in double overtime only days earlier. It’s as if whatever fuel remained got left in Boston; Sunday offered more evidence for doubters. Danny Wolf and Egor Demin, a pair of relatively anonymous faces, led scoring—never a sign your night’s going to end well when the household names fade. The numbers—14 and 12 for Wolf and Demin—suggest effort, but offer little hope for turning around a season gone sideways.Skip across the country and you find the NFL’s own brand of drama. The Seahawks—still with playoff ambitions—almost sabotaged themselves with a moment of youthful exuberance: Riq Woolen couldn’t resist celebrating a big stop with some extra talk, drawing a costly taunting penalty. Suddenly, L.A.’s drive was alive again and a touchdown followed, leaving Woolen the focus of harsh words both on the sideline and across social media. Seattle survived, barely, and the lesson—mistakes can cost dearly—was etched as sharply as any late-game fumble.But victory doesn’t erase poor execution. Take the Spurs, who seemed poised to claw back against New Orleans. Victor Wembanyama posted an eye-catching stat line—16 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks—but was repeatedly battered inside by Pelicans muscle. Every time San Antonio sniffed a comeback, Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey—each with their own double-double—slammed the door. For every flicker of promise from the Spurs’ bench, another free throw bricked or a forced shot spun out. By the final horn, New Orleans had answered every run, gradually draining the hope out of a young team’s comeback bid.It’s at this point in both leagues—the grind before the playoff sprint—that teams show their true character. The Clippers, finally healthy and in sync, look like a squad ready to make real noise. Brooklyn, in contrast, seems out of answers, waiting for something—anything—to spark a surge. The Seahawks know edges are razor-thin; no margin for unnecessary penalties. For the Spurs, the challenge is learning to finish, not just fight.Next? The Nets go to Phoenix in desperate need of something to build on. L.A. carries its streak to Utah, their confidence as tangible as their stat sheets. The Spurs, bruised but not broken, head east. Here, the margin is slim, the stakes visible in every huddle and haggard coach’s expression. In both basketball and football, moments matter—sometimes the smallest swing decides whether a season endures or just fades out.