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Knicks mount fourth-quarter comeback for 103-90 defeat of Nets
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- Knicks mount fourth-quarter comeback for 103-90 defeat of Nets
The Knicks beat the Nets at Madison Square Garden Monday night, 103-90, extending their winning streak over their crosstown rivals to 15.
Here are the takeaways...
-- While the Nets entered the game riding the high of their first win of the season , the Knicks were hoping to bounce back after their second loss to the Philadelphia 76ers .
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The last time Brooklyn beat New York was Jan. 28, 2023, just over one week before superstars Kyrie Irvingand Kevin Durantwere traded away.
-- The Nets jumped ahead early, finding their way to a 7-5 lead in the first three minutes of play. Despite working to overcome their turnover troubles early in the season, the Knicks committed their first of the game just 94 seconds in, which allowed for a three from Nets sophomore point guard Nolan Traore. OG Anunobywas the only Knick to score through the first three minutes until Mikal Bridgeslanded two free throws, tying the game at seven-all.
After that, the Knicks tightened their defense and found their way to the basket, scoring 10 straight points punctuated by back-to-back Jalen Brunsonthrees. Brooklyn was quick to tie it back up, but two shots from beyond the arc by Deuce McBrideand a trio of free throws from Landry Shametsent New York into the break up 27-21.
-- The back-and-forth play continued through the second frame. While the Knicks struggled to find the basket for the first three-and-a-half minutes, the Nets climbed to a three-point edge. Four uninterrupted points from Bridges — two free throws and a dunk — put the Knicks back out in front, and they maintained the lead through the end of the quarter, but Brooklyn kept the deficit low until Shamet landed back-to-back threes.
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Brunson attempted to add three at the buzzer but was fouled by former Knick Julius Randle, earning two free throws. He missed the first, but his second shot gave the Knicks a 51-44 as the half came to a close.
-- Both teams found themselves in turnover trouble through the first 24 minutes of play, coughing it up a combined 15 times (Knicks had seven). Despite only shooting 36 percent — compared to Brooklyn's 40 — New York found game-changing success at the free throw line, going 15-for-16.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded five double-doubles in the first six games of the season, headed to the locker room without a single point, though he recorded 10 rebounds and three assists in his 17 first-half minutes.
-- New York's energy quickly evaporated in the third. Towns finally got on the board, landing two driving layups and two of his three free throws through the first four minutes, but the Nets responded with a 13-0 run through the middle of the frame spearheaded by Randle, Day'Ron Sharpe, and Michael Porter Jr.Shamet finally broke the streak with a three, adding a second 90 seconds later to keep the Knicks in the game, but it wasn't enough. After outscoring New York 35-24 in the third, Brooklyn ended the quarter ahead by four, 79-75.
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Shamet's 20 points through the first three quarters led all players at that point.
-- Then, as they often do in the fourth, the Knicks reappeared. Josh Hartdrove New York to a 10-point lead in the five-and-a-half minutes of the frame, scoring a 25-foot three-pointer, assisting two Anunoby threes and a layup from Tyler Kolek, and adding a running layup as the Knicks outscored Brooklyn 16-2 to start the frame. Traore kept cut into New York's 10-point lead with a 24-foot jumper, but Anunoby and Towns responded quickly with two free throws and a field goal, respectively, to open up a 9-0 run.
As the Knicks continued to gain momentum, the Nets crumpled, turning the ball over six times through the first 8:30 and scoring just five points in the same span before Randle got the Nets moving again on two free throws with 2:23 left to play. Another foul shot from Randle and a three from Traore cut the Knicks' lead to 13, but the deficit proved too much to overcome, and the Knicks walked away with the 103-90 victory.
-- Overall, the Knicks shot 41 percent from the field, 39 percent from three, and 83 percent from the free throw line, compared to Brooklyn's 38 percent, 34 percent, and 70 percent, respectively.
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-- Despite the rocky start, Towns finished with yet another double-double, scoring 11 points and adding 16 rebounds. He also had five assists and four turnovers.
Jose Alvarado, who missed four games with an ankle sprain before returning to the court Monday night, played nine minutes but didn't score.
-- In his first game against his former team since joining Brooklyn's squad in July , Randle recorded his first double-double as a Net, notching 21 points and 11 rebounds. He was the only player on Brooklyn's roster to break 20 points against the Knicks.
Game MVP: Landry Shamet
Shamet, who played for Brooklyn during the 2020-21 season, posted a game-leading 22 points, tacking on one rebound and one assist in 29 minutes of play. He also went 6-for-8 from the field, 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
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Highlights
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What's next
The Knicks are set to host the Chicago Bulls Wednesday. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Across the river at the Barclays Center, the Nets will take on the Charlotte Hornets that same night, when they'll look to avenge their 110-103 season-opening loss .
