© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview: How, Who to Watch In Final Metro Battle
The New York Knicks will look to keep their strong momentum alive in this season's final in-city battle against the Brooklyn Nets.
The New York Knicks could have an old friend for dinner on Friday night.
New York City's NBA teams are trending in drastically opposite directions as they do battle for the final time this season: whereas the Knicks are prepping for the NBA playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets are playing out the stretch as they inch toward an uncertain future. The last of four meetings will be staged on Friday night to open the last weekend of the regular season.
The Knicks still have something to play for: while they don't control their destiny for the second seed in the Eastern Conference (at the mercy of Milwaukee Bucks in that department), they can clinch a spot no worse than third with a win. New York can also earn a sweep of the Nets for the first time since 2017-18, having prevailed in each of the first three get-togethers so far this season.
Brooklyn, all things considered, has taken elimination rather well, winning three of their last four including one against the contending Indiana Pacers last Wednesday. The Nets will also be a bit more dangerous considering they have no scheduled draft pick awaiting them later this summer.
What: Brooklyn Nets (32-48) @ New York Knicks (48-32)
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
When/Watch: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG
Who's Favored: NYK -10.5
Keep An Eye On: Jalen Brunson
Considering the fact that the Knicks' fate could be decided by the end of the night (New York will be locked into third with a win and either a Milwaukee win or Cleveland loss), this could be the last glimpse of Brunson fans have to hold them over until the playoffs tip off. Every game since spring has felt like Brunson answering questions of what he can do next or for an encore. With one last thing to play for (a top three) seed, there would perhaps be nothing more symbolic than for Brunson to put up one final show-stopping performance against the Knicks' in-city rivals.
Mar 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives past
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Net to Watch: Mikal Bridges
Recent metropolitan fan fiction has centered on Bridges joining his fellow former Villanova Wildcats in Manhattan. Such a union would more than likely cost the Knicks a pretty penny, so don't expect anything Bridges does on MSG hardwood to be a preview of any kind. Bridges once has proven to be incredibly durable, as he's on pace to appear in every single game for the fourth consecutive season. The Nets don't have much to play for, but one has to believe that the Wildcats' playful nature would feature Bridges throwing any kind of a wrench into his former teammates' playoff plans before they eave him behind.
They Said It
“I’ve been confident, even with a lot of ups and downs that I’ve had with the Knicks,” Bogdanovic said. “I’m feeling more comfortable in my role right now. Kind of adjusting a little bit because it’s not the same. I’ve been a starter for 10 years, but here going into the playoffs, I hope that I’m starting to play way better and keep my level up.”-Bojan Bogdanovic on his role before the playoffs (h/t Stefan Bondy, New York Post)
Prediction
The Knicks showed just how valuable having something to play for in Thursday night's game. That look even more apparent come Friday against a Nets group that's just counting down the days to a dreary offseason, one where they don't even have the comfort of any draft picks to keep them company. New York has taken care of business on many occasions this season and there's hardly reasons to believe they won't be able to do so this time around.
