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Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks preview: Nets finally make it on national TV!

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Atlanta Hawks v New York Knicks
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The Nets return to Brooklyn after 11 games on the road only to be met by a back-to-back starting with the crosstown rivals

After going on a six game road trip out west, the Nets return to NYC looking to secure their third victory of 2025. The Nets were plain and simply not good, going 1-5 and even losing by 59 , their worst loss ever, in one of the outings. But today is a new day back in Brooklyn!

Tonight, the tank might have to take a quick break as Brooklyn will be taking on their crosstown rivals in the New York Knicks. Since beating the Nets in two straight outings back in November, the Knicks have risen to third in the East. While the Nets are not as good to say the least, this game will be for bragging rights, so be prepared for a dog fight.

And since the Nets hold the Knicks first round pick in the June draft, a win could ultimately have some value come June. Problem though is that Nets have lost six straight at Barclays and the stands will likely be filled with orange and blue.

Where To Watch

Check out the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT and Youtube TV. It’s the Nets only game on national television this season. Time to shine for Ernie, Charles, Kenny and Shaq.

Injury Report

Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Thomas, DeAnthony Melton, Maxwell Lewis, Ziaire Williams, and Trendon Watford are out. Dariq Whitehead is with the Long Island Nets. Ben Simmons is again questionable with an illness. Brian Lewis reports that Bogdanovic has resumed on-court activities but he’s a long way from escaping this list.

For the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Kevin McCullar Jr. (knee) are out.

The Game

With the all time lead in the rivalry now to the favor of the Knicks (114-112) after the Knicks two early season wins, the two teams have rarely had their fates as closely tied as they are now. Leon Bass thought so much of Mikal Bridges as his final championship piece that he traded away five first round picks, all but one unprotected the other lightly so; an unprotected first round pick swap; a second rounder and three players for Bridges and the now departed Keita Bates-Diop. The two teams’ first trade in 42 years will define things for years to come.

It’s no secret why they have turned things around this season for the Manhattanites. Ranking seventh in the league in points per game (117), the Knicks have finally come together and allowed their offense to flow. One player who is key to this transition is Bridges, who will be making his return to Barclays tonight. Brooklyn Bridges is averaging 18 points on almost 50% shooting, a huge jump from November when fans criticized him on his jump shot as well as looking like mere a shell of himself. He still has occasional setbacks but he’s been more consistent as of late.

Bridges’ one-time “twin,” Cam Johnson has not had a problem seeing the ball go in either. Johnson has elevated his game, going from a catch-and-shoot specialist to far more complete and sophisticated scorer. He enters tonight’s game shooting 50/40/90, something only nine other players in NBA history have accomplished over a full season.

Aside from that, Ben Simmons is now questionable with an illness, the same thing that kept him out of the Thunder game. As fans know, good things happen when he is on the court: Players get open shots, opposing offenses find it a little more difficult to score, you get it.

Will today be a dog fight? Hope so. Brooklyn needs to continue on with the tank, but this is for NYC people. Just think, how good will Nets fans feel that we can have the upper hand on their rival WHILE on a tank. That feeling would feel good no matter how bad the team is.

Player To Watch: Karl Anthony-Towns

You thought we’d pick Mikal Bridges, right? Wrong! How about Jalen Brunson who’s averaging 34.6 points, 6.4 assists and 3.0 3-pointers over the last five? Nope!

New Jersey’s own Karl Anthony Towns is looking to continue his dominant stretch on the season. Averaging 25 and 13, Towns has been a man on a mission showcasing an aggression that was not really seen too much with the Timberwolves. Because of his frame, it could be trouble for Claxton and Clowney, who are more on the frail side. Either way, we could have a big man battle on our hands if both sides come to play.

KAT has become a fan favorite in New York or as much of a fan favorite as the mercurial Knicks fandom will permit. “What have you done for me lately?,” New Yorkers’ classic tack in any negotiation, applies to basketball as well. Bottom line though is that the Knicks need Anthony-Towns to carry them if they have any hopes of playing in the spring.

From the Vault

Last February as the Nets were sinking slowly in their attempt to win while rebuilding, their supposed leader, Mikal Bridges, college buddies Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on their “Roommates” podcast…

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It got snarky when Bridges complained about how Barclays Center looked and sounder more like Madison Square Garden.

The context of the conversation was what it’s like playing an away game with a large contingent of Knick fans cheering them on, a regular experience now for the surging New Yorkers. When Bridges asked if Brooklyn was the most extreme case — “the worst” in his words — Brunson and Hart, along with co-host Matt Hillman, agreed. It was as we noted at the time, “cringeworthy.”

Some may place the beginning of the Nets rebuild later in the year. But in the days after Bridges comments, Jacque Vaughn was fired and there were reports that Bridges told his former Villanova teammates that if they were so interested in reuniting with him, they should have Leon Bass make Sean Marks an offer he couldn’t refuse. Ultimately he did.

More reading: Posting and Toasting, SBNation NBA