Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, left, and Los Angeles Clippers center Serge Ibaka go after a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Serge Ibaka defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden, left, talks with Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley after a confrontation in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard Bruce Brown, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard Bruce Brown, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams, center, shoots as Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris, left, and guard Bruce Brown defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, left, gets a pat on the head from guard James Harden during a timeout in the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets forward Jeff Green dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets guard Bruce Brown, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Serge Ibaka defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Brooklyn Nets forward Jeff Green, left, and Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann go after an inbound ball meant for Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Live and learn, lose and learn.
The Clippers insisted they’ll make lemonade from their second loss this season to Brooklyn, that they’ll be better for lessons gleaned from another loss to Steve Nash’s star-studded squad, which, like them, is in serious pursuit of its first NBA title.
As was the case earlier this month, the Nets got the better in a battle with the Clippers, who on Sunday lost at Staples Center, 112-108, falling short after they rallied from a 15-point deficit with fewer than nine minutes left to tie the game 108-108 with 28 seconds to go.
In the time remaining after that, a putback by former Clipper DeAndre Jordan and a pair of free throws from L.A. native James Harden tipped the game in Brooklyn’s favor for good. The Nets also beat L.A. 124-120 in a closely contested game on Feb. 2 in Brooklyn.