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The Nets came back home from Montreal to play this one ... although they’ll be in Manhattan instead of Brooklyn. Still, they’ll get to sleep in their own beds. Comfortable! For those of you who missed it, the Nets had something of a third-quarter collapse against Kawhi and the Raptors and they never fully recovered. Oh well, on to the next one ... and the last one.
The Knicks and Nets are matching up for the second time for the final game of the preseason. They also play again next Friday in the home opener. So, a lot of New York basketball to consume. These two squads are going to be quite familiar with each other this year. By the time the season is complete, they will have played each other six times: six preseason and the usual four regular season.
Where To Follow The Game
YES and MSG are both going to have this one at 7:30 pm ET, so no shortage of options on that end. No radio for this one again, guessing that’ll start up with the regular season. If there are any new or impartial fans trying to reach a decision on whether to watch the game with the YES or MSG announcing teams, as good as Mike Breen and Walt “Clyde” Frazier have been and as much as they’re lauded, the YES crew is hands down the most entertaining in the league and I don’t think it’s particularly close.
Injuries
Demarre Carroll and Ed Davis should be back from taking the Raptors game off for rest. Shabazz Napier is still out with a hamstring and Allen Crabbe said his ankle injury is “not serious” but it is highly unlikely he’ll play in this one. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had a full practice Thursday, but he too will not play. Hopefully he’ll be able to make his debut opening night. He’s already been missed on the court.
Courtney Lee, Enes Kanter, and Mitchell Robinson are all day-to-day, with Robinson the only one likely to play. The Knicks are resting Kanter and Lee still has a sore neck. Kristaps Porzingis is out for the foreseeable future.
The Game
As the final game of the preseason in MSG, this one will feel a little more serious than the previous three. Coach Kenny has to really start figuring out his rotations and lineups now, so expect to see something of a full effort Friday night. Jarrett Allen, by the way, has looked fantastic this preseason. He might be ready to make a mini-leap and really become a pillar of this young team. The Nets system is designed to give him good looks at the basket and ample space with which to work, and he’s been finishing with strength and confidence when given the opportunity.
D’Angelo Russell has been his usual infuriating self, taking ill-advised shots then somehow making them. After two games where he had only two turnovers, he lost the ball seven times in Montreal. He’s an enigma, and can swing any game with his engagement on the court. If he and Allen both have it working against the Knicks, especially with Kanter out, the Nets could be looking at a revenge win at MSG.
On the Knicks side, David Fizdale will be trying an experiment in New York’s last preseason game. With Frank Ntilikina having grown two inches (!) in the last year, Fizdale wants to see if his defensive ace, now 6’7”, can guard power forwards.
Player To Watch
Allonzo Trier, undrafted former Arizona star, is making a name for himself as the Knicks backup point guard. He has shades of Spencer Dinwiddie; tall, undervalued, talented. A “fallen angel” type, if you will. He also dropped 25 points in 26 minutes against the Nets last week, including 17 points in the second quarter. He could be dangerous unless the Nets decide to put him in his place.
Kanter-Dinwiddie Beef
"We're better than the Knicks."
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 12, 2018
- Spencer Dinwiddie pic.twitter.com/7r8sIuP7JV
From The Vault
For those of us who are still mourning the loss of the 2018 Yankees season, here are some home runs, of which the Yankees hit a record 267. Enjoy.
For those who don’t know, a home run is the dunk of baseball.
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes - Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks Game Notes - New York Knicks
- Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks - STATS/TSX
- Spencer Dinwiddie sets record straight on fiery award remarks - Jonathan Lehman - New York Post
- Knicks are ready to give Frank Ntilikina a major defensive test - Greg Joyce - New York Post
- Knicks finally have the experts on their side - Justin Terranova - New York Post
- Knicks call on Chris Bosh for help with talented rookie - Greg Joyce - New York Post
- With Kristaps Porzingis’ progress at a ‘slow drip,’ new coach David Fizdale working on Knicks stars leadership skills - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Spencer Dinwiddie believes he deserved Most Improved award - Greg Logan - Newsday
- David Fizdale wants to see how Frank Ntilikina does in defending power forwards - Barbara Barker - Newsday
- Chris Bosh provides some mentoring for New York Knicks rookie Kevin Knox - Chris Iseman - The Record
- David Fizdale names starting five for New York Knicks preseason finale - Chris Iseman - The Record
- NETS VS. KNICKS PREVIEW: JARRETT ALLEN LOOKING GOOD IN BROOKLYN’S UPDATED OFFENSE - Tom Dowd