Hold off Knicks for third straight victory
Games between the Knicks and Nets will never be boring, no matter where they’re played. That much was proven when Brooklyn traveled to Madison Square Garden for the first time this season and squeezed out a 103-101 victory over the Knicks on Sunday.
The Nets had their work cut out for them: win at Madison Square Garden, without their three best players, against a team desperate for a victory over their crosstown rivals. They came away with the win, but in
New York, there’s always drama along the way.
After the Nets built a 14-point lead in the first quarter, they watched that advantage evaporate in the second quarter. By the time the starters returned to the game, the Knicks had turned that double-digit deficit into a 30-29 lead.
The Nets turned that onepoint deficit back into an 11point lead, but drama resurfaced late in the fourth when the Knicks, in typical Knicks fashion, clawed back into the game. Marcus Morris got hot when the team needed him to, hitting back-to-back threes with less than two-and-a-half minutes on the clock.
Wayne Ellington then hit a big three on the Knicks’ next possession to make it a 98-97 game with 1:21 to go. But the point guard position has been an issue for the Knicks all season long, and this time, Taj Gibson created a wide-open look for Frank Ntilikina in the corner.
Ntilikina missed the three and the Nets took advantage.
In this back-and-forth game, Spencer Dinwiddie was the star as the Nets won their third straight game.
Dinwiddie was the best player on the court against the Knicks, as he’s been in every game the Nets have won with Kyrie Irving on the inactive list with a shoulder injury. Dinwiddie finished with 30 points on 7-of-17 shooting. 19 of those points came in the first half, including a set of back-to-back threes in the first quarter: a side-step over Gibson, then a pull-up in transition that jump-started their early run.
“I told you, man. You hit two or three of them things, gonna have to change my last name to something else,” Dinwiddie said. “Start feeling a little different.”
The Knicks were also short rookie RJ Barrett, out with an illness, so Morris took out his do-it-yourself kit and put the team on his back. He shot 7of-8 from three and finished with 26 points. But the Knicks had trouble finding consistent offense from other players on the roster. Ntilikina only shot 1-of-5 from three-point range. Kevin Knox was in foul trouble in the midst of a poor shooting performance. Dennis Smith Jr. did not see the court much down the stretch, but shot 2-of-4 from three.
The Nets, on the other hand, continue to build chemistry without Irving. Every starter scored in double figures, including Jarrett Allen, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Taurean Prince may have had his most well-rounded performance with 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists on the night.
“These guys are just realizing, especially when we miss shots,” Atkinson said. “They’re showing a toughness. It doesn’t matter if we’re missing shots, we’re gonna get back and get a stop.
The Nets are now 2-0 against the Knicks this season, winning both in similar lategame fashion. Whether Irving plays or not, these matchups between the New York teams will always bring something interesting.