Thrilling Knicks vs. Nets Matchup Kicks off NBA Rivals Week
For the third straight year, the NBA has gifted fans with a highly anticipated Rivals Week. This rendition features 11 nationally televised matchups, with a combination of new and old rivalries facing off. The kickoff to NBA Rivals Week was a fierce, gritty clash for the state of New York, between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. The Knicks faithful took over the opposing arena, and it presumably made an impact, as Nets star Mikal Bridges was quoted as saying “You feel like at an away game at home. That’s for probably any person sitting in here”. With both teams jostling for playoff positioning heading towards the NBA Trade Deadline, this game was bound to be a tight battle. Indeed, it was, with the first half being a back-and-forth affair, with no team leading by more than five points at any point in the half.
The Nets, led by the three-point shooting prowess of Mikal Bridges (7-13 3PT) and Cam Johnson (4-6 3PT), jumped out to a nine-point lead heading into the 4th quarter. However, the Knicks duo of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle weren’t content to go down without a fight. The two managed to combine for 15 points in the final frame, both hitting clutch free throws in the final two minutes. On the other end, they were part of a defensive unit that provided suffocating defense to hold the Nets to just 18 points in the 4th quarter, a testament to the Knicks' identity as a rugged, tough-nosed team that prides themselves on that end of the floor. Brunson and Randle each finished with 30 points on over 50% shooting from the field, with Randle adding nine rebounds and seven assists in 37 minutes.
Coach Tom Thibodeau stuck with his typical nine-man rotation, with a notable change in the starting lineup as Jericho Sims returned from a right ankle sprain, replacing Isaiah Hartenstein who was forced to miss the matchup due to a left foot injury. The newly added OG Anunoby continued to make his impact known, especially on the defensive end with four steals and two blocks. He chipped in ten points, and guard Donte DiVincenzo added 11 points and five rebounds. For the Nets, center Nic Claxton recorded 17 rebounds, a season-high in that category. Reserve guard Cam Thomas put in 14 points, keeping his season average to over 20 pts/game.
The Knicks' next game is a home matchup against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. two-time MVP Nikola Jokić will prove to be a tough cover inside for a Knicks team lacking talent at the five-spot. While the Nets will be at home to face the number one team in the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves. T-Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is fresh off a 62-point performance, but Nets center Nic Claxton has the defensive acumen to slow him down considerably. Can these two New York teams, take down two of the top-tier teams in the Western Conference?
