On January 28, 2023, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the New York Knicks in the Barclays Center, 123-115. Despite missing Kevin Durant, the Nets rode a 32-point performance by Kyrie Irving to win their ninth
consecutive game against the Knicks, dating back to January 2020 when Durant was recovering from a torn Achillies in the first year of the “Clean Sweep” era.
After the game, Brooklyn center Nic Claxton infamously said to the press that he had never lost to the Knicks since he entered the league.
This was a lie, as Claxton played in the Knicks’ victory over the Nets in January 2020, but it would go down in infamy because of what’s happened since. Since this statement, the Knicks have won ten consecutive meetings with their crosstown rivals, who have since imploded, traded Durant and Irving, traded the centerpiece to the Durant trade to the Knicks, and are currently in tank mode.
After those few years of Durant and Irving trying to make the Nets cool, it’s been fun to beat them every year.
Knicks’ Record vs Brooklyn in 2024-25: 4-0
- November 15, 2024: Knicks won 124-122
- November 17, 2024: Knicks won 114-104
- January 21, 2025: Knicks won 99-95
- April 13, 2025: Knicks won 113-105
The Knicks didn’t blow out the Nets once last year, but they won all four meetings. The first one was an NBA Cup pool game and saw the early-season Knicks nearly blow a 21-point lead in the final 13 minutes. A relentless, 40-point fourth by Brooklyn saw Dennis Schroder hit a go-ahead three with 12 seconds left. Facing a horrific loss right in the face, Jalen Brunson nailed a spot-up three off the inbound, and Mikal Bridges delivered his first signature Knicks moment with a chase-down block of Schroder at the buzzer.
The next game was easier. While the Nets never truly went away, the second meeting ended in a ten-point victory that was never really in doubt. On a day where the usual hero in Brunson was ice cold, the other four starters all poured in 20+ points, with KAT leading the way with a 26-15-6 masterpiece.
The first meeting of 2025 and the first in the Barclays Center was another frustratingly close one. A baffling offensive effort saw Brunson start 4-for-12, and the Knicks only made eight threes all night. Another double-digit lead was blown in the fourth, but Captain Clutch took over to save the day.
The final meeting came on the final day of the season. Neither team played for anything, so the Knicks emptied the bench. Landry Shamet and Cam Payne combined for 50 points, PJ Tucker played 29 minutes, and Kevin McCullar Jr. got 21 minutes.
Knicks vs. Nets — 2025-26 Schedule:
- Sun, Nov 9, 2025: Nets @ Knicks (6:00, MSG)
- Mon, Nov 24, 2025: Knicks @ Nets (7:30, MSG)
- Wed, Jan 21, 2026: Celtics @ Knicks (7:30, MSG)
- Fri, Mar 20, 2026: Knicks @ Nets (7:30, MSG)
Boston’s Offseason Moves:
In:
- Kobe Bufkin (trade)
- Haywood Highsmith (trade)
- Terance Mann (trade)
- Michael Porter Jr. (trade)
- Egor Demin (draft)
- Nolan Traore (draft)
- Ben Saraf (draft)
- Danny Wolf (draft)
- Drake Powell (draft)
Out:
- Cam Johnson (Nuggets)
- D’Angelo Russell (Mavericks)
- Trendon Watford (Sixers)
- Tosan Evbuomwan (Knicks)
- Day’Ron Sharpe (unsigned)
Most of Brooklyn’s offseason revolved around the draft, where they made an unprecedented five first-round picks and kept all of them. How will they find minutes and touches for all of them? Nobody knows!
Michael Porter Jr., acquired for Cam Johnson, was exiled from Denver and will look to rebuild his value ahead of free agency. D-Lo moves on to Dallas.
Projected Starters
PG: Egor Demin (BKN) / Jalen Brunson (NYK)
SG: Cam Thomas (BKN) / Deuce McBride (NYK)
SF: Terance Mann (BKN) / Mikal Bridges (NYK)
PF: Michael Porter Jr. (BKN) / OG Anunoby (NYK)
C: Nic Claxton (BKN) / Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)
Three of the starters are pretty obvious. The other two are extremely hard.
Thomas and Porter Jr. represent an interesting dynamic. Two players who are definitely not known for their playmaking will have to learn to share the ball. Thomas, a dynamite scorer who’s always had the Knicks’ number, has to show some other component of his game to get a big payday after signing the qualifying offer. The same can be said for MPJ, who is a free agent after 2026-27.
After that? They could start Noah Clowney or Haywood Highsmith or could even turn to a second rookie, but I lean Mann at the moment. The only rookie that I think will definitely start is Demin. You just don’t bench a lottery pick when you are not close to contending.
Knicks’ Predicted Record vs Brooklyn this season: 4-0
The Nets are not trying to win. If their front office got their way, they’d get their hands on AJ Dybantsa at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft. Really, the goal for them is to showcase Thomas and Porter enough to potentially flip them at the deadline or next offseason and eventually pave the way for their five rookies to get more playing time.
If this isn’t a season series sweep, we’re gonna have issues.
