Nets Edge Out Knicks in 1st Battle of Boroughs This Season
Round one of the Battle of New York goes to the Brooklyn Nets, albeit barely. The Nets held on to win over their crosstown rivals, the New York Knicks, 112-110…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 30: James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets controls the ball against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks at Barclays Center on November 30, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images)
Round one of the Battle of New York goes to the Brooklyn Nets, albeit barely.
The Nets held on to win over their crosstown rivals, the New York Knicks, 112-110 after Knicks shooting guard Evan Fournier missed a 45-foot running jumper with one-tenth of a second left in the game, sending Brooklyn to its 14th win of the year, and the Knicks to their 10th loss.
It marked a close-nit game between the rivals. The game was tied at 110 after Fournier hit a three-pointer with 17.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, however the Knicks' Mitchell Robinson was called for a defensive foul that put Brooklyn on the free throw line with only 2.2 seconds to go. James Johnson sunk both free throw shots for Brooklyn to give them the lead at 112-110.
James Harden had a huge night for the Nets, dropping a team high 34-points and 10 boards. Kevin Durant finished with 27 points, including 11 points in the final 5:45 of the contest.
In his new role as the Knicks starting point guard thanks to the benching of Kemba Walker, Alec Burks lead the Knicks with 25 points. Julius Randle added 24 points and nine boards in defeat.
The Nets enjoyed as lead as wide as 14-points midway through the third quarter after Durant hit a jump shot to give Brooklyn an 80-66 lead with 5:54 to go in the third quarter.
At this point Burks and Randel got hot for the Knicks, sinking their shots to chip away at the Nets lead. Soon Fournier nailed back-to-back three point attempts to cut the Nets lead down to six-points, 88-82. Julius Randel followed with a jump shot of his own to cut the Nets lead down to four, 88-84 to end of the third quarter.
Alec Burk's three pointer less than two minutes into the fourth quarter cut the Nets lead down to a single point, 88-87. However, Harden responded on the back end for Brooklyn, nailing a jump shot of his in the pain to increase the lead back out to three points, 90-87.
The Knicks actually took the lead with 8:54 to go on Immanuel Quickley's three pointer, but Brooklyn, undeterred responded with James Johnson nailed a three pointer 22 seconds later to put the Nets back out in front 93-92.
