The Knicks’ street struggles don’t appear to use when the journey is just throughout the river. Barclays Middle as soon as once more felt like a second house Monday evening, filled with Knicks followers and MSG-style distributors lining the out of doors plaza. And as soon as once more, the guests made themselves comfy, beating the Nets 113-100 within the newest interborough matchup.
Karl-Anthony Cities was unstoppable, ending with 37 factors and 12 rebounds because the Knicks improved to 10-6 and 2-5 on the street this season. Brooklyn fell to 3-14 with the loss and remained winless at house. The Nets have misplaced 12 straight video games to the Knicks, the longest streak in both path within the historical past of the collection.
Regardless of the latest one-sided historical past and the lopsided fan presence, the Nets didn’t ease into the evening. Brooklyn got here out with the form of vitality it lacked in Sunday’s loss in Toronto. The Nets had been faster to free balls, sharper defensively and much more engaged from the opening tip, wanting like a workforce intent on flushing a disappointing effort moderately than letting it linger.
They carried that edge into the primary quarter and took a 26-24 lead after one. Noah Clowney stayed sizzling, persevering with his breakout stretch with eight early factors on 3-for-4 taking pictures, together with 2-for-3 from deep. Brooklyn shot simply 8-for-20 within the interval and 4-for-11 from 3-point vary, however the Nets made up for it by getting downhill and drawing contact, trying 9 free throws to the Knicks’ one.
The momentum shifted early within the second. The Knicks opened the quarter on a 13-2 push and grabbed a 39-31 lead, fueled partly by Cities’ aggression within the paint and the Nets’ lack of ability to comprise him. Brooklyn’s offense stalled throughout that stretch, managing simply six made area objectives within the quarter whereas taking pictures 27.3% as a workforce. Egor Demin’s quiet begin didn’t assist. The rookie was passive early, trying just one shot in his first 10 minutes whereas the Nets searched for somebody to regular the offense with Michael Porter Jr. taking pictures 1-for-6 within the interval.
Nonetheless, Clowney and chronic workforce protection saved the Nets inside placing distance, they usually settled in late within the half, closing on a 15-6 run to drag inside three on the break. The third-year ahead completed the half with 15 factors on 4-for-6 taking pictures, 3-for-5 from deep and an ideal 4-for-4 on the line. It matched the second-highest scoring half of his younger profession, trailing solely the 17-point first half he delivered in opposition to Detroit on Nov. 7.
The Nets didn’t stumble out of halftime, however maintaining with the Knicks offensively nonetheless proved to be a major problem. Porter couldn’t shake free for clear appears to be like, Clowney’s touches thinned underneath further strain and Brooklyn’s offense stalled once more regardless of a powerful nine-point burst from rookie Drake Powell. In the meantime, Cities and Mikal Bridges saved carving up the Nets from inside and outside because the Knicks shot 63.6%.
By the point the quarter ended, the Knicks had blown the sport open, successful the body 38-27 and heading into the fourth with a 14-point lead. Brooklyn waved the white flag not lengthy after, because the Knicks’ lead ballooned to 19 with 6:37 remaining, spoiling a career-high 31-point effort from Clowney.
The Nets return to motion Friday in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Middle, whereas the Knicks go to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. The groups will meet once more on Jan. 21 at Madison Sq. Backyard.
