Watch Live: Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 PM EST on ESPN and YES Network

The Brooklyn Nets have been playing some inspired basketball of late, having won 2 of their last 3 in an attempt to bring their season back from the brink. Ok, maybe that’s a bit hyperbolic this early on in the season, but the Nets will get a chance to show their continued fight when they welcome the Knicks to town on Wednesday night.

New York is sitting at 5-5 this season, with newcomer Jalen Brunson running the show.

Brooklyn will once again be without Kyrie Irving, who is once again out due to a team mandated suspension.

It’s early, both teams are... fine... but it’s always fun to get up for Nets vs. Knicks.

WHO: Brooklyn Nets (4-7) vs. New York Knicks (5-5)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. est

WHERE: ESPN (national), YES Network (local & on app), WFAN-FM (radio)

Game preview.

R.J. Barrett is coming on strong in his fourth season out of Duke. Still just 22 years old, he’s averaging 20/6/3, albeit on pedestrian splits: just 29% from deep and 43% overall. And while those numbers are anchored by a putrid season opener (11 points on 3-18), you can’t simply remove one game in a sample size this small.

Still, Barrett is firmly a good player, and an All-Star path isn’t out of the question. The rim pressure and subsequent high-level passing from that area of the court may never be elite, but if he gets you on that right hip it’s over. At a legit 6’6”, he’s got a thick frame and the touch to make any contest but a great one irrelevant. And he’s currently on a little heater from three, having made 13-30 over his last five contests. It’ll likely be Joe Harris and Royce O’Neale splitting time on him out of the gate, with Durant on Julius Randle.

For more on the Knicks, check out Posting and Toasting.