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BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
We take a moment to appreciate everything Dr. King did and hope it can still be applied today. In sports, we’re fortunate to call it a rivalry, not hate. In this case it was the Battle of the Boroughs, edition no. 3.
The Nets and Knicks matched up for the third time this season, with the Knicks taking both games in convincing fashion. So, why would anything change?
They destroyed the Nets in a one-sided battle, 119-104, Monday afternoon at Barclays Center. The Nets were climbing up the hill most of the game, but cut it to two entering the fourth. Then, the Knicks unleashed Porzingis in the fourth and it turned into a blowout.
The Knicks had lost six of seven entering Monday, while the Nets (16-28) have now lost five of the last six. Moreover, this was the second night of a back-to-back for the Knicks, who lost in overtime Sunday night. Their physicality was their biggest advantage and Kristaps Porzingis’ length forced Brooklyn to shoot frim deep. They hit only 36 percent from the field and 32 percent from three.
“They always play aggressive and pressure the ball, so I would just say that’s being more in control of us, and drives and people staying in space. They’re a big team,” Rondae Hollis-Jefferson said after the game.
Added Kenny Atkinson: “I thought they did a great job waiting for us at the rim on our drives. But we do have to do a better job of kicking it out. If they have two guys waiting for us at the rim, we have to make that extra pass. I think we’ve regressed in our ‘making the extra pass’ philosophy and against this team, that’s flood the rim all the time with two bigs, you have to make that extra pass.”
Porzingis finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. He’s averaged 23 points and 7 rebounds in three games against the Nets this season.
And don’t forget, the second game he left early with an injury.
“I thought they did a great job waiting for us at the rim on our drives,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game. “We do have to do a better job of kicking it out. If they have two guys waiting for us at the rim, we have to make that extra pass.”
The Knicks played the Nets well and forced them inside the paint early on. After starting the game 7-of-14 from the field, the Nets missed 24 of their next 29 shots, which allowed the Knicks to take a 12-point lead in the second quarter.
The Knicks led the Nets, 52-42, at half and forced Brooklyn to shoot just 32 percent from the field.
With Porzingis sitting most of the third with foul trouble, the Nets were able to capitalize a bit. New York went up 14 early in the third, but the Nets got it within two entering the fourth, following a 39-point quarter.
Brooklyn had all the momentum and it was on them to finish it out, which they failed to do. Just the opposite. The Knicks went on a 24-7 run in the first six minutes and increased their lead to 17, with 5:33 remaining.
They outscored the Nets 36-23 in the fourth.
And so, for the third straight time this season, the Knicks beat the Nets in convincing fashion. The blue and orange took over Barclays with, “LET’S GO KNICKS” chants in the final minutes.
It’s an expectation for Nets fans at this point. Knick fans have dominated the scene at Barclays with almost no exceptions since the move to Brooklyn.
The Knicks, on the other hand, shot 51 percent – 56 percent from 3-point. Michael Beasley came off the bench and put home 23 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Nets, DeMarre Carroll was one of few to show up, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Caris LeVert chipped in 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson stayed solid with 16 points and six rebounds.
The Nets hoped their pace and space style could outlast New York’s length, which it didn’t. Quincy Acy hit three 3-pointers, but the rest of the team struggled all night. Spencer Dinwiddie shot 2-of-14 from the field and Allen Crabbe shot 1-of-7. That’s the starting backcourt right there.
As for Jahlil Okafor – he got ONE touch the entire game. He played a total of seven minutes.
Oh well.
APPRECIATION FOR MLK DAY
Along with wearing T-Shirts that say, “I have a dream,” several players wore shoes that said “Equality” on them, namely Caris LeVert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of the Nets.
Up close look at @CarisLeVert #MLKDay kicks. #Nets pic.twitter.com/ZsbRj0CMch
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) January 15, 2018
Then, before the game, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had a message for the fans. “Whoever you come across man, give them love, embrace them, show them you care.” He walked back to a fired-up Brooklyn Nets bench, as Hollis-Jefferson has embraced a big leadership role on and off the court for the team.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson #MLKDay speech: “Whoever you come across man, give them love, embrace them, show them you care.”
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) January 15, 2018
(@NetsDaily SnapChat) pic.twitter.com/wibRRdn8am
JOSEPH TSAI IN THE BUILDING
Brooklyn Nets (almost) part owner Joseph Tsai was in the building for his first crosstown rivalry. NetsDaily spotted him before the game.
Brooklyn Nets part owner Joseph Tsai is sitting courtside before today’s Nets-Knicks game. #Nets pic.twitter.com/MTigugbTj3
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) January 15, 2018
The Brooklyn Nets still have not officially announced the 49 percent sale to Tsai. The Taiwanese-Canadian billionaire has agreed in principle to pay Mikhail Prokhorov $1.1 billion for the stake.
***
So, five losses in the last six games and they haven’t felt good. It’s the second blowout in the last week surrounded by games that ended in heartbreak. Sometimes the matchups don’t work in Brooklyn’s favor, but... no excuses.
For a different perspective, head on over to Toasting and Posting.
- Game Report: New York Knicks 119, Brooklyn Nets 104 - NBA.com
- Highlights: New York Knicks 119, Brooklyn Nets 104 (Video) - NBA.com
- Highlights: DeMarre Carroll 22 points vs. New York (Video) - NBA.com
- Highlights: Caris LeVert 20 points vs. New York (Video) - NBA.com
- Dinwiddie with the drive (Video) - NBA.com
- Nets Post Game Plus: NYK@BKN (Video) - YES Network
- Atkinson on Nets’ loss to Knicks (Video) - YES Network
- Atkinson prepares for the Knicks (Video) - YES Network
- LeVert on three losses to Knicks (Video) - YES Network
- Hollis-Jefferson on loss (Video) - YES Network
- Dinwiddie on early deficit (Video) - YES Network
- PORZINGIS: WE FINISHED STRONG (Video) - Rebecca Haarlow - MSG Network
- ANALYSIS: 4TH-QUARTER SURGE PUTS KNICKS UP FOR GOOD (Video) - Alan Hahn, Bill Pidto & Wally Szczerbiak - MSG Network
- Porzingis, Beasley help Knicks beat Nets in opener of trip - Brian Mahoney - AP
- Ntilikina’s breakout game shows Knicks what’s been missing - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Trey Burke quickly proves he’s breath of fresh air Knicks needed - Marc Berman - New York Post
- Porzingis busts through slump as Knicks run away from Nets - Marc Berman - New York Post
- Knicks paying today for Tim Hardaway Jr.’s game yesterday - Marc Berman - New York Post
- Porzingis busts through slump as Knicks run away from Nets - Marc Berman - New York Post
- D’Angelo Russell doesn’t need to get in the game to have impact - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Nets’ outside shooting let them down against bigger Knicks - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Kristaps Porzingis helps Knicks end skid with 119-104 victory over Nets - Stefon Bondy - New York Daily News
- Michael Beasley put on weight midseason after Knicks asked him to play power forward - Stefon Bondy - New York Daily News
- Knicks beat Nets for third time this season - Mark Herrmann - Newsday
- D’Angelo Russell moves step closer to return - Greg Logan - Newsday
- Acy applauds Martin Luther King’s legacy - Greg Logan - Newsday
- Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina has a breakthrough game - Al Iannazzone - Newsday
- Tim Hardaway sits against Nets as a precaution - Al Iannazzone - Newsday
- Knicks start road trip with win in Brooklyn - Steve Popper - The Record
- Knicks Notebook: Tim Hardaway Jr. sits out in Brooklyn - Steve Popper - The Record
- Nets cannot touch Knicks in Martin Luther King Jr. Day loss (Game Grades) - Elizabeth Swinton - The Brooklyn Game
- New York Knicks 119, Brooklyn Nets 104 - Three Takeaways - Alex Labidou - Brooklyn Nets
- KENNY ATKINSON ON D’ANGELO RUSSELL’S NETS RETURN: A COLLABORATIVE DECISION - Alex Labidou - Brooklyn Nets
- NETS-KNICKS POSTGAME QUOTES - - Brooklyn Nets
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