Back around Christmas, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets crossed paths, with the Knicks on the verge of reshaping their roster.
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Back around Christmas, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets crossed paths, with the Knicks on the verge of reshaping their roster and the Nets teetering around the .500 mark.
Since that encounter, the paths of these intra-city rivals have taken divergent routes. As Tuesday night approaches, the Knicks are striving for their fourth consecutive victory, while the Nets are working hard to prevent slipping further below the .500 mark as they reunite in Brooklyn.
In the previous clash on December 20, the Knicks sailed to a comfortable 121-102 victory, marking their third consecutive win against the Nets with a cumulative lead of 61 points. This streak comes after the Nets had claimed victory in the prior nine meetings, featuring Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the roster.
Following the triumph in Brooklyn, New York’s record stood at 16-11. However, the team faced a setback by losing four of the subsequent five games. In response, the roster underwent a significant transformation, including the acquisition of OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley as part of a five-player deal.
For the Nets, Simmons (back injury) and Whitehead (foot injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Knicks, Robinson will be sitting this one out due to an ankle injury.
New York’s most recent triumph unfolded on Saturday, building on previous victories against the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards. They solidified their success with a commanding 126-100 home win over the Raptors, particularly dominating the second half with a notable 67-43 margin.
Jalen Brunson emerged as a key player, contributing 38 points for the Knicks. Since returning from a two-game absence due to a calf injury, he has maintained an impressive average of 36.3 points in three games. Saturday marked the sixth time he surpassed the 30-point mark since the trade, and he boasts a remarkable 51.8 percent shooting accuracy (85-for-164) over his last eight contests.
In the recent game, Julius Randle made a notable contribution with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Meanwhile, Anunoby, playing for 37 minutes, showcased his impact by finishing with a plus-20 and has accumulated a plus-190 since joining the Knicks. The team has been actively working to enhance their defensive capabilities.
As for the Nets, they experienced a strong flow for the initial 42 minutes on Sunday. However, things took a turn as they ended up conceding the final 22 points to the Los Angeles Clippers, concluding a three-game road trip with a 125-114 loss.
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