Nets Rally Past Knicks

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

 

The New York Knicks were officially eliminated from the playoffs last week so when they hosted the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night, the only thing they were playing for was their pride. Brooklyn meanwhile were looking to keep their eighth seed intact or maybe move up in the division with only two games remaining after last night. Once again, the Knicks were without forward Julius Randle who was still dealing with a quad issue. Both teams were coming off wins (New York 118-88 over Orlando last Sunday and the Nets took out Houston 118-105 Tuesday night at Barclays Center). 

 

Based on the play from the first half, you would think the Knicks were the team going to the playoffs. Brooklyn took a 20-15 lead with 4:11 left in the first quarter then their defense disappeared. The Knicks went on 14-5 run closing out the quarter with a 29-25 lead. It would only get worse for Brooklyn in the second quarter.

 

 

 

 

The Brooklyn drought continued as they did not score until the 9:55 mark of the second quarter as the Knicks extended the lead to 38-25. New York outscored the Nets 29-25 the rest of the way taking a commanding 67-50 by halftime. RJ Barrett leading the way with 12 quarter points.

 

As the Knicks struggled in the third quarter, Brooklyn outscored them 22-15 to cut the lead to 82-72 going into the fourth quarter. Brooklyn then came out on fire to start the final quarter. 

 

It began with 2 Patty Mills 3-pointers followed by a Kyrie Irving 3. Kevin Durant drains a 2-pointer and before you know it, Brooklyn cut the lead to 1 at 84-83. The teams would go back and forth with Barrett giving the Knicks a 95-92 lead after his lay-up. Durant cuts the lead to 1 (95-94) and then Brooklyn turned up the heat offensively and defensively.

 

Irving, Seth Curry and Patty Mills hit 3-pointers and just like that, the Nets opened up a 10-point lead 107-97 0n their way to the 110-98 win. It was the 7^th straight win for the Nets over the Knicks. Brooklyn outscored New York 38-16 in the final quarter.

 

Said Durant (game high 31 points) about the team’s slow start, “the first half we didn’t we don’t play Nets brand of basketball, stuff that we preach about every day. But the second half is who we are.”

 

Both teams have 2 games remaining with New York going to Washington to face the Wizards Friday before ending the year at home against Toronto Sunday. Brooklyn ends the year with 2 home games hosting Cleveland Friday and Indiana Sunday.