The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks are both as connected, and as far apart, as they’ve ever been.
In an injury-ravaged East, New York has its best chance to advance to the NBA Finals this year in more than two decades. But the Nets, as we all know, are the “other” kind of team right now, focused on the future and developing young talent above before anything else. Yes, that includes winning games, even if they won’t say it.
That said, each team is taking to their differing tasks with tools from
the other. The Bridges trade gave Brooklyn all the assets they needed, and then some, to supply the rebuild. The Knicks got Bridges.
This was all true last year each time the two teams met. But now, with a whole season between the trade, any Bridges animosity, if there ever was any, has worn off among Nets fans. Notorious Knick-killer Cam Thomas wasn’t able to suit up either, zapping the hype out of this one that was limited to begin with.
That set the scene for a rather humdrum, forced-feeling rivalry matchup on Sunday afternoon when the Nets crossed over into Manhattan.
The game’s opening minutes fit everyone’s agenda. Egor Dëmin started for a second straight game alongside Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, and Terance Mann. New York also started the game up 12-3. It took until the 7:38 mark of the first for someone not named Porter Jr. to score for the Nets.
The 3-point shot stuck a wedge between the crosstown teams in the first period. Despite creating an abundance of high-percentage looks, Brooklyn shot just 1-10 from deep. New York, high or low percentage, made ’em make all, or so it seemed, going 7-11 from deep. That shooting supported an 11-0 New York run to close out the frame and give the Knicks a 40-22 lead.
Drake Powell started the second half after picking up a few minutes to begin the first. The raw, yet exciting prospect was more the former early on, getting tagged with a few fouls and a turnover. But in the second, he flashed his athleticism, at one point elevating over Bridges for a three, and then Deuce McBride and the closing Karl Anthony Towns to finish inside.
The Nets started the quarter 5-5 from the field and 3-3 from deep, but their defense experienced no such turnaround. Whether catching up from turnovers or doubles, Brooklyn’s defense was perpetually a step behind, and New York looked like a team built on trust and chemistry, assisting on 20 of 28 made field goals in the second period. They abused Brooklyn’s weak interior defense with baseline cuts and eight offensive rebounds leading to six second chance points as well.
Dëmin returned in the second to offer another dosage of encouraging rookie play devoid of any impact on the scoreboard. Those concerned over his lacking field goal attempts earlier this season should feel relieved seeing him navigate around one of the game’s best rim defenders on this take out of the pick-and-roll…
Porter Jr. also dropped in a few more makes Knicks fans could only shrug or shake their head at…
But the Nets still trailed 77-62 at halftime, even after dropping 40 in the second, burnt by New York’s .651/.556/.917 shooting splits between each of the first two quarters. Porter Jr. led everyone in the scoring department at that point, chipping in 22 points on 8-14 shooting from the field and going 4-6 from deep.
New York then started the third on a 14-1 run. Yes, you read that correctly. What was already a lopsided game completely broke off its axel. Josh Hart started hitting step back threes. After not playing any minutes in the first and shooting 23% from deep on the season, Guerschon Yabusele came off the bench an immediately buried one too. The Knicks snagged nine points on the break, and snatching whatever assortment of pride you had left from the depths of your soul. They won the quarter 35-17.
The remained of the game offered very little from a entertainment standpoint with the Nets down 112-79 at the start of the fourth. But while surely an uncompetitive one, the Nets wouldn’t be a wasteful team. Brooklyn used the fourth to get their young players more burn, including Tyson Etienne, who checked in as early as the 10:14 point of the fourth.
Noah Clowney, who started the game, also remained on the floor, though that only extended a night filled with frustration for the now three-year pro.
Clowney’s rollercoaster start to the season took a steep plummet against New York, shooting 1-9 from the field and 0-7 from deep. It got to a point where Karl Anthony Town stopped guarding him out on the perimeter. KAT hooked him on a drive to the rack around the eight minute mark of the fourth, which went uncalled. Clowney, unhappy and making that clear to a nearby official, picked up a technical foul and a seat on the bench soon after.
E.J. Liddell came in with around eight to go, eventually finishing out the game with Tyrese Martin, Jalen Wilson, Etienne, Powell, and New York’s deep bench players.
Powell had no shame using the garbage time to his advantage. While it was only his fourth game appearing and the second where he logged 20+ minutes, Powell notched a career-high 15 points after shooting 5-8 from the field and 3-3 from deep.
Porter Jr. led all Nets with 25 points after shooting 9-18 from the field and 4-9 from the field. Claxton, though limited by some foul trouble, turned in another solid night, adding 12 points, five assists, five rebounds, and blocking two shots.
But the positive numbers for Brooklyn end there. There wasn’t even an attempt by the team to put lipstick on a pig with a back door cover, as the score stayed ugly until the final horn.
Final: New York Knicks 134, Brooklyn Nets 98
Injury Report
The Nets ruled Day’Ron Sharpe out for the remained of the game tonight with left hamstring tightness. The injury appeared to happen toward the end of the third quarter after Sharpe signaled to the bench to be taken out while at the free throw line. We’ll provide updates when we can.
Next Up
You’ll get no judgement from me if you’re not interested in watching another one after that, but for the brave, the Nets will come back to the Barclays Center on Tuesday night for a date with the Toronto Raptors. As of Sunday afternoon, the Raps are 5-5 on the season, and have gotten 8.8/1.3/3.9 from Collin Murray-Boyles, who they took right after Brooklyn selected Dëmin this summer.
