Nets – Knicks: and Kyrie Irving enters the scene…

The first meeting between the two teams, at the Barclays Center on November 9, was a real butchery (112-85 in favor of the Nets). This time, the second round, still in Brooklyn, was more contested, but the outcome was the same: a victory for net (122-115).

First in control in the first half (62-49), thanks to a devilish address outside (11/21) against the defense of Knicks completely disinterested, the Nets faced better resistance from teammates Jalen Brunson and Julius Randlefinally decided to defend, and then returned to -7 at the end of the third quarter (88-81).

The “Big Apple” at the feet of Kyrie Irving

Then the last quarter debate, and the start of the “show” Kyrie Irving simultaneously. While he had scored only 11 points until then, the leader added… 12 points in the first part of this last action.

But his team lost, when the Knicks began to seriously believe in their chances of a “comeback” when they returned to possession three minutes from the end (108-105), after still accusing 14 points behind some minutes before.

So he decided to add a layer to make sure to avoid a disaster scenario: 9 extra points in the last three minutes, including two big award-winning shots to blow away Manhattan’s neighbors! In the end, “KAI” finished with 32 points on the clock, including 21 scored in the last quarter (8/14 on shots), but also had 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.

An XXL performance to bring his men to a narrower victory than expected, and offer a welcome rebound after the surprise loss against the Pistons.

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

– The Knicks are close to a “hold-up”, but the Nets have a superstar in their ranks. In the end, this is the first observation that comes to mind: without this amazing hot shot from Kyrie Irving in “money-time”, the Knicks would have punctuated their “comeback” and won this match. But with ifs, we made the world again, and it turns out that the Nets point guard is particularly fit and decisive in the heat of the moment, and he carried his team, avoiding the Knicks’ steal in the final act. Knicks for whom this game is definitely a “reality check”: they are a good team, but unlike the Nets (and the Bucks, the 76ers and the Cavaliers), they do not have a superstar in their ranks that can allow you to compete in decisive moments against other superstars. And this, currently, is what separates New York from the Top 5 of the Eastern Conference.

– A clash of styles, and modernity won. On the one hand, a Knicks team that blew the racket, with 68 points in this area, but scored only ten award-winning shots (from 28 attempts). On the contrary, a Nets team that conquered the racket a little (34 points), but on the other hand, successfully let the pellets rain behind the arc, with a big 22/40! And in the end, Brooklyn, with their 66 points from wide, absolutely obliterated their opponents’ dominance in the inside sector, serving as a reminder of the critical importance of the award-winning shot in basketball today. As a symbol, the two daggers from Kyrie Irving in the final minutes were… outside shots. Once again, Tom Thibodeau and modernity haven’t proven particularly compatible…

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Nic Claxton. While Mitchell Robinson is still out of the Knicks side, the young Nets pivot enjoyed himself near the circle, mostly scoring wide-open dunks (6/6 on shots). His 13 points were accompanied by 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks, for a high-quality all-around performance, perhaps the most important in the game for the Nets, after Kyrie Irving.

✅ Royce O’Neal and Joe Harris. Taking advantage of the Knicks’ defensive largess out wide, the two starting wingers each scored 4 award-winning shots to fuel the offense, waiting for take over by Kyrie Irving late in the game. Far from being one-dimensional, they also brought 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

✅⛔️ Julius Randle. Honest performance but far from unforgettable, for the Knicks’ strong winger. If he can’t finish far from the triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists), his investment really leaves something to be desired, as well as the usual confused decision-making, some even lead in 3 ball losses. In other words, it’s important, again, but obviously less sharp than usual.

✅ Emmanuel Quickley. The Knicks’ will-o’-the-wisp continues, game after game, to be a source of excitement, regardless of the outcome. With 16 points (4/7 behind the arc), 6 rebounds and 3 assists, he once again brought an interesting amount of play in several areas, establishing himself as the only reliable replacement in the attack, with the strict rotation of his coach, Tom. Thibodeau.

⛔️ The Knicks Defense. It’s really hard to win when you get 22 winning shots, including 11 in the first half that caused a 19-point deficit before the break! Although their two previous victories, against the Cavaliers and Celtics, were largely due to their defense, the Knicks had the bad idea to drag their feet when their opponents came from behind. of the arch. There was better envy in the second half, starting in the second half of the third quarter, but it was ultimately not enough to offer the shadow of a resistance against Kyrie Irving, in the money time. The Knicks lost that game in the first period.

THE FOLLOWING

– Nets (30-19): reception of the Lakers, in the evening from Monday to Tuesday (01:30).

– Knicks (27-24): also receiving the Lakers, but the following night (01:30).