I couldn’t do two. The Brooklyn Nets traveled to Canada to take on the red-hot Toronto Raptors. Brooklyn fought hard, but Toronto was too much to handle as they pulled away late to extend their winning streak.
Tonight’s opponent has high expectations, but things have been pretty tough lately. The New York Knicks went south to face the Orlando Magic, but lost 133-121. The loss was bad enough, but they ended up losing another rotation player. We will talk about it again soon.
Double coverage! YES Network and MSG on TV. Gotham Sports streaming. WFAN on the radio. Tip after 7:30 p.m.
No Cam Thomas, Ben Saraf or Haywood Highsmith. Second night in a row, we’ll see if anyone else is out. Additionally, we don’t know if Brooklyn will bring back Nolan Traore and Danny Wolf who played well during their five-game stay on Long Island.
Landry Shamet left Saturday’s game with a right shoulder injury. He was diagnosed with a shoulder sprain and is out. OG Anunoby is out with a left hamstring strain. Deuce McBride missed Saturday’s game due to illness. He should be ready to go tonight.
The Knicks won the first meeting.
Luckily for the Nets, they have a few days off after tonight. Three matches in four nights in three cities in two countries is quite an adventure. And with the holidays approaching, the team has the opportunity to rest and spend more time with their family. I just have to stop by tonight first.
Brooklyn’s defense hit rock bottom in the first meeting, and it’s been relatively decent since. Since November 10, Brooklyn has allowed 116.2 per 100 possessions, which ranks 18th in the NBA. It’s not particularly great, but it’s better than the Knicks over the same period. NY allows 118.2 points per 100 possessions since the tenth game, good for 20th in the NBA. The Knicks have some big places to go this spring, and they’re going to have to fix this quickly. We will have a better gauge for this group when Anunoby returns.
Noah Clowney Stocks Are Exploding!
He and Nic Claxton will have their hands full inside tonight. Mitchell Robinson is coming off a season-low three rebounds on Saturday night, but has been one of the best rebounders in the NBA this season. He is second in offensive rebounding, averaging nearly five o-boards in 17 minutes per game. He’s relentless on the glass and for a Nets team that has struggled on the glass, Robinson could exploit a weakness in a major way.
The Nets will also have to deal with Karl-Anthony Towns. With KAT, you often worry that he’ll come out of a game with an ill-advised foul, but those moments haven’t been as pronounced. His shooting numbers are down (thanks to a career-low 60.4 percent from within three feet), but he’s getting to the free throw line at the highest rate of his career. The percentages should return to what we’re used to soon enough, but if he continues to be a bad magnet, watch out.
It’s been a long time since Brooklyn beat its Manhattan neighbors. The Nets have lost seven straight games to the Knicks and haven’t beaten them since January 28, 2023. It feels like a lifetime ago.
With the two teams in drastically different spaces, Mikal Bridges’ rematch won’t really have much juice. Mikal’s exit from Brooklyn wasn’t particularly acrimonious, but there’s usually a little extra oomph when you’re facing a former teammate who’s joined a competitor. It probably won’t be like that, but Bridges should still be a part of the Knicks’ offense. He plays well among All Stars and can warm up on his own.
Michael Porter Jr can also warm up, and if he can warm up early, he will shape the tenor of the crowd at the Barclays Center. As we all know, Knicks fans always make their presence felt and if the Nets find themselves in bad shape early, the Clays will turn to a Garden Party by the end of the first quarter. MPJ has been one of the best scorers in the league this year and a big outing would help Brooklyn finally get a win at home.
Player to watch: Jalen Brunson
When missing so many key players, the franchisee has to put a little more on his shoulders. Luckily for the Knicks, they have the right man for the job. Jalen Brunson has carried the Knicks franchise since arriving in New York in 2022, and he’s held it together ever since. JB is ninth in the NBA in scoring at 28.4 points per game with shooting times of 48/36/86. Brunson does everything on offense for this group and if the game is close late, put it in his hands and watch him work. The Nets’ opener didn’t require much drama as they outscored the Nets for 19 points in 28 minutes. As the Knicks look to get back to winning ways, Brunson will look to assert himself early.
I can’t afford to flip him like the Nets did last night. They turned it over 19 times, the second-highest total this season. For Egor Dëmin and Drake Powell, they will try to bounce back in a particularly tough match. As we mentioned earlier, the team has been traveling a lot over the past few days, and I’m sure it’s very taxing for those new to this adventure for the first time. Brunson is a nightmare on a normal day. Seeing it when you’re exhausted and desperately waiting for a well-deserved mini-break? Attention.
One step closer to Survivor Series!
And happy trails, Brandon Nimmo
