Following their 106-87 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, the league’s worst team joined the 1988-89 Miami Heat and 1999 Los Angeles Clippers for the mark of futility.
New Jersey’s internal changes failed to produce a shake up on the court and with assistant Tom Barrise assuming the head role the Nets found no special remedy to quell their woes, least of all a matchup with the defending NBA champions.
As if the reeling franchise did not have enough obstacles to deal with, a determined Kobe Bryant put on a shooting display with five 3-pointers and 30 points to lead the Lakers to a routine victory.
Pau Gasol added 20 and Los Angeles (13-3) left the turbulent Nets dazed and confused, practically putting the game away before halftime when they took a 59-34 advantage.
Other NBA results (home team in CAPS): Phoenix 113, TORONTO 94; DETROIT 94, Atlanta 88; LA CLIPPERS 98, Memphis 88; Boston 92, MIAMI 85; Orlando 114, NY KNICKS 102; Houston 100, OKLAHOMA CITY 91; SAN ANTONIO 97, Philadelphia 89; Minnesota 106, DENVER 100 and SACRAMENTO 112, New Orleans 96.
