Brooklyn demolished the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks for the biggest win in franchise history

don’t look Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Sunday Brooklyn Nets–Milwaukee Bucks the match was not a fair fight, and not in the direction you would think. From the opening tip, Brooklyn looked like a different class of team than Milwaukee. The Nets destroyed a listless Bucks team 127-82, tying their biggest win in franchise history.

Despite that the absence of head coach Jordi Fernandeswho was out with the flu, the Nets turned in their most complete effort of the season. While no player reached 20 points, nine players reached double figures. Meanwhile, Brooklyn held Milwaukee to 31-of-79 (39.2 percent) shooting from the field and 8-of-35 (22.9 percent) while forcing 20 turnovers.

“It was a lot of fun. Watching us play well as a team,” said assistant Steve Hetzel, who stepped in as head coach during the win. “Usually, Michael (Porter Jr.) carried us offensively, and then you see how the points are spread out as a group. I don’t think anybody that came out played bad. Total team effort. Totally focused. They really wanted it. . . . It was a great feeling.”

The Nets won every quarter during the victory, three of them by double figures.

The Nets embarrassed the Bucks as they tied for the biggest win in franchise history

They put on an offensive clinic, shooting 45 of 85 (52.9 percent) from the field and 19 of 43 (44.2 percent) from three with 33 assists and 13 turnovers. Meanwhile, they held the Bucks scoreless for the final seven minutes of the game.

“If you hold any team scoreless for six minutes, that’s elite,” Noah Clowney said. “This is the NBA. You don’t outwork anybody that often… (And offensively), that’s probably the best form of hoops, when everybody’s eating and everybody’s playing well, everybody’s making shots. It’s just good camaraderie.”

Egor Demin led the Nets to one of their best games of the season, scoring 17 points and three assists on 6-of-8 shooting. The performance came after Fernandez publicly criticized the rookie’s play during Friday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Clowney scored 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting and Tyrese Martin added 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting with three from the bench. Drake Powell added 13, while Porter Jr. and Terrence Mann chipped in 12 apiece.

This victory was Brooklyn’s fourth in the last six games. After an 0-7 start, the Nets are 7-11 in their last 18 games, 7-8 when Porter Jr. plays. They rank 20th in offensive rating (112.7), 16th in defensive rating (113.9) and 19th in net rating (-1.2) during that span.

meanwhile, The Bucks have lost 11 of their last 14 gamesincluding three of their last four after Antetokounmpo went down with a calf strain. For a team forever clinging to a superstar centerpiece, Sunday’s performance won’t help the cause.

“That’s 45 points for a team that’s trying to lose,” an exasperated Kyle Kuzma said after the game. “They’re four or five wins or whatever it is now. No disrespect because that’s the beauty of this league. There’s so much talent (that) if you’re not ready, you can get your ass kicked by any team.”

Kyle Kuzma on Bucks loss to Nets: “That’s 45 points to a team that’s trying to lose. They’re 4 or 5 wins or whatever right now. No disrespect at all because that’s the beauty of this league, right? There’s so much talent and if you’re not ready, any team can kick your ass.” pic.twitter.com/ouGVKB8Kjk

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 15, 2025

After their 4-2 stretch, the Nets have fell to sixth place in the draw table. They are one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for fifth and two behind the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings, who are tied for third.

Brooklyn’s last six games have been against teams with sub-.500 records. The rebuilding team faces a tough schedule over the next two weeks, with games against the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.