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Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks preview: the final ride is a matinee

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New York Knicks v Brooklyn Nets
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The Nets have secured the sixth best lottery odds and the Knicks the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoff. The Knicks go on to face the Pistons, the Nets go home.

Well Nets fans… It is about that time. The tough road that had to be endured is now coming to an end… and what a ride it has been. There were of course more downs than ups.

Whether it would be the 26-55 record, Cam Thomas’ season-ending injury, and maybe most all, the mid-season back-and-forth questioning if the Nets were actually going to make it through the tankathon (the answer: they did!). But truly, the highs of this season were a blast to witness. First, the young guys proved they belong in this league. Keon Johnson, for example, put the league on notice after spending a good amount of time in Long Island. The same with Tyrese Martin who the Nets elevated to a standard deal mid-season.

Players like Drew Timme also earned himself a nice bonus at season’s end, thanks to the work he put in all season in the G League and the opportunity he got when called up.

A couple of the main guys didn’t disappoint either, as Cam Johnson showcased that he could be a main option if put in the right situation. Nic Claxton started slowly due to a back injury but proved why he deserved his new deal by being a force on both ends.

The big “win” of the season, of course, was Jordi Fernandez. The Catalan coach had been in the mix for several head coaching jobs, but it was the Brooklyn Nets who gave him his big chance and it paid off. Twenty-six wins (or 27 if they beat the Knicks) are not a lot to brag about but Brooklyn led the league in games lost to injury and franchise-high 27 players were under contract at one point or another, both of which tested his mettle.

To end things, Brooklyn will be taking on their crosstown foe in the New York Knicks, who just clinched the third seed in the East but have lost three straight There is a good chance the stars of both teams will sit out in preparation for what’s to come, but there is a beautiful element that can allow this game to be a good watch. It is the Battle of the Boroughs.

With the Nets’ investment in the draft and the Knicks getting ready for the playoffs, there is not much to gain for either side. Should the Brooklyn team beat the Manhattan team, it could set up a tie in the NBA standings to close the season. The Knicks draft pick, owned by Brooklyn as a result of last June’s big deal between the teams, could jump from where it stands this morning, tied for No. 25, to as high as 22 … after a favorable tiebreaker. Unlikely, but possible.

As Bobby Marks tweeted this morning, not much is settled…

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New York vs. New York, for one last time this season. That alone could make the young guys motivated … beyond just proving why they belong in the “L.”

Where to Watch

Catch the action live on WLNY TV or on MSG or the Gotham Sports app. It starts at 1:00 p.m. ET. It’s also Kids Day and the first 5,000 fans get Nets backpacks.

Injury Report

Noah Clowney (right ankle), Cam Johnson (lower back), De’Anthony Melton (ACL), D’Angelo Russell (right ankle/illness), Day’Ron Sharpe (right knee) and Cam Thomas (left hamstring) will be out. Ziaire Williams (knee) is questionable.

For the Knicks, Ariel Hukporti with a knee injury. Karl Anthony Towns (knee), Jalen Brunson (ankle), OG Anunoby (right thumb, and Josh Hart (knee) are all listed as questionable. That will change before game time.

The Game

The Nets will try to avoid a sweep of the season series, having lost Games 1 and 2 in a back-to-back in November, then falling again in Game 3 in January. Two of the three were close. The all-time rivalry now stands at 115–112 but the Knicks have won nine straight, the second longest in the near 50 years the teams have played each other in the NBA. The Nets won 11 straight in the Jason Kidd era.

The trade between the Knicks and the Timberwolves (and the Hornets) in October seemed like a senseless thing to do, according to some New York fans. By now, the addition of Karl Anthony Towns has proven to be a big positive. This year, KAT has averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds (career high) while shooting over 40% from beyond the arc for the sixth time in his career.

With a big man as dominant as that, with Jalen Brunson being Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have enjoyed a lot of success but the Knick fan base is never satisfied and won’t be. They’ve been waiting for a championship since 1973 and a Finals appearance since 1999. In fact, they haven’t made it out of the second round since 2000. You can tell your Knick fan buddies that your team has gotten to all those milestones more recently.

For the Nets, I’m expecting the Nets to go out in pure Jordi Fernandez fashion, a hard-nosed 48 minutes of effort mixed with some evaluation for the young guys. Look out for Trendon Watford and Keon Johnson to be the main ball handlers tonight, as both players provide a nice balance of scoring and playmaking. Both, like 11 of their teammates, are on expiring deals. Hopefully Dariq Whitehead, who is under contract next season, can provide some opportunities from downtown. In the season, Whitehead has shot 44% from three point land. Drew Timme, just be you, my man.

Player to Watch

Former Net Mikal Bridges did his thing — playing every game again this season. He hasn’t missed one since high school and his NBA streak has not reached 555 straight. He’s led the led the league is minutes as well. Hey, it’s Thibs! He’s also shot 50% overall, his best since 2021-22 and his 17.8 points a game is good enough for fourth best on a playoff team.

All that said, there has been a drop-off in his defense according to various measures, this 3-point shooting is down and his status with Knicks fans is mixed. One big reason is what Knicks GM Leon Rose gave up for the 28-year-old.

To recount, Brooklyn got five first rounders, all but one unprotected and that one lightly protected; a first round swap also unprotected; its own 2025 second rounder back as well as three players, two of whom were used to get another second as well as Ziaire Williams and Maxwell Lewis. There was a $23.3 million trade exception buried in there too. So much of the Nets fans’ hopes going forward depend on the team uses all those assets.

This will be his second time at Barclays since joining Brooklyn’s rival, as he will probably receive some love from his former teammates, nine of whom still reside on the Nets roster.

From the Vault

There’s so many Nets-Knicks highlights over the years, but rather than looking backward, here’s our Shara Taylor and Lucas Kaplan looking forward

Thank You

Before I go, I just want to thank the best writers in the world in Bob, Brian, Anthony, Lucas, Collin, Alec, and Scott. You guys are the best team a kid in college can ask for. Bob, thanks for taking a chance on me. Nets fans, hopefully my information has done you some good. See you next season!!