'Have mercy': Mockery as NBA team sinks to worst-ever loss
In “not a typo” news, the Los Angeles Clippers had a historically rough time against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. They fell behind, 77-27, by halftime for an NBA record they’d rather not have set.
Yes. The half. And it didn’t get better. The Clippers lost their first game of the season by a 124-73 score, the worst loss in franchise history.
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The 50-point halftime deficit was the largest in an NBA game during the shot-clock era that started in 1954-55, per ESPN Stats and Info.
The previous record was a 47-point lead by the Golden State Warriors over the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 2, 1991.
It was so bad they Mavericks could have gone scoreless in the second half and still won by four points. The Clippers’ only other 50-point loss was on Dec. 2, 1988, against the Seattle Supersonics.
For the Mavericks, it was the second-largest win in franchise history, trailing a 53-point trouncing of the Philadelphia 76ers in November 2014, per ESPN Stats and Info.
The Clippers (2-1) were without Kawhi Leonard after teammate Serge Ibaka inadvertently elbowed him in the teeth during the fourth quarter of a 121-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. It required eight stitches.
NBA fans brutally mock Clippers after loss
The Mavericks (1-2) got 10 players into the game in the first half, all of whom had a plus-minus of at least +20. Luka Doncic had 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one block at the half. By the final whistle, he neared a triple-double with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 26 minutes.
Josh Richardson had 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18. The Mavericks bench scored 49 points and had 32 of the 54 rebounds. Their 10 steals were five times as many as the Clippers.
Paul George had a Clippers-best 15 points and four assists. Ibaka had 13 points and nine rebounds. Ivica Zubac had 10 points off the bench.
NBA fans can be savage at the best of times and the Clippers’ franchise-worst loss provided plenty of fodder for mockery on social media.https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1343336826325577729
I just happened to turn away from the football games and thought I was seeing things. The Mavericks were up 77-27 over the Clippers at halftime.... pic.twitter.com/pMXPYb4yV8
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 27, 2020
in Space Jam, the Monstars lead the Tune Squad by 40 points (58-18) before the scoreboard stops showing numbers and instead says "Kinda One-Sided, Isn't it?" before halftime
the Mavericks lead the Clippers by 50 at halftime pic.twitter.com/9L8bw7kTze— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 27, 2020
I think it’s hilarious that the entire basketball world is happy the Clippers lost by 51 today 😂
— Lexie Brown (@lexiekiah_4) December 28, 2020
Clippers my GAWD! A 50 piece!!?? Fiddy??? Bro go back to the drawing boards!
— Jason Robinson (@ctown206) December 27, 2020
Good lord have mercy. I’ve seen blowouts before but I don’t think I’ve ever witness a team being down by 50 — like the @LAClippers trailed the @dallasmavs. JESUS! Even without Kawhi, there’s no excuse. I mean......Damn!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 27, 2020
Dallas scored the first nine points of the second quarter to move ahead 45-13, and the Mavericks held the Clippers without a basket for another long stretch to extend their lead to 62-18 midway through the second quarter.
The Clippers scored the first 10 points of the second half for their best surge of the game, but the Mavericks outscored Los Angeles by eight points the rest of the quarter to take a 104-57 lead to the fourth.
Dallas continued to be without All Star forward Kristaps Porzingis, who remains sidelined after off-season knee surgery.
With AAP
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