Knicks rally past slumping Nets at Barclays

Brooklyn blows another double-digit lead in latest loss

January 24, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Julius Randle and the Knicks soared into Brooklyn and handed the Nets their fourth straight loss in the Battle of Boroughs series. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

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The Nets squandered another double-digit, second-half lead, got outscored badly down the stretch and couldn’t hit a shot when it mattered most.

In other words, it was more of the same for Brooklyn Tuesday night at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson put up 30 points apiece as the East River rival Knicks used a late run to hand the ever-slumping Nets their 16th loss in the last 20 games, 108-103, in front of 17,732 fans on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush.

“We just got to stay together, that’s the biggest thing,” said Nets forward Mikal Bridges, who scored a game-high 36 points and knocked down a career-best seven 3-pointers.

“When a team makes a run, makes a push, we just got to handle adversity a little better,” he added.

Brooklyn (17-26), which slipped a season-worst nine games below .500 and dipped into sole possession of 11th place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, was coming off Sunday’s embarrassing loss in Los Angeles, where they blew an 18-point lead and gave up a 22-0 game-closing run to the Clippers.

Things appeared to be going much better back in our borough against the streaking Knicks (27-17) as the Nets led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter and carried an 85-76 advantage into the fourth.

But New York never relented, using a staggering 18-4 advantage in free-throws made to close the gap down the stretch.

Dorian Finney-Smith drained a 23-footer to put Brooklyn in front, 100-98, for what proved to be the last time.

Randle answered with a 3-ball of his own and after Mikal Bridges made 1-of-2 at the line to tie the game, the Knicks pulled away for good.

Nic Claxton grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds Tuesday, but the Nets lost for the 16th time in their last 20 games. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

Randle threw down a thunderous dunk after both teams exchanged blocked shots, Josh Hart hit a layup to make it 105-101 with 25.1 ticks remaining and Brunson and Randle answered a jumper by Bridges by combining for three big free throws as time wound on the Nets’ latest humbling defeat.

“We just kept grinding. Obviously, they were pretty much beating us all game. They were playing well. They started the game pretty well,” admitted Brunson after New York won its fourth straight Battle of the Boroughs game and fourth in a row overall.

“We couldn’t do anything about what we did in the past,” he added. “We could only just be better going forward, and the best quarter was the fourth tonight.”

The Nets were outscored by a whopping 41-15 count in the fourth quarter Sunday in L.A. and 32-18 by the Knicks on their own floor, where they opened a five-game homestand with their fourth consecutive loss at Barclays.

Brooklyn misfired on its final eight shots against the Clippers and went 1-for-5 from the field during New York’s 10-2 run during crunch time Tuesday.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 11 points and OG Anunoby added 10 for the Knicks, who will host defending NBA champion Denver at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

“That’s our team,” Randle told the Associated Press. “Me and Jalen get a lot of shine just scoring points and stuff like that, but those are the plays that win us games. Those are the plays that maybe go unnoticed. But they’re winning plays and they help us win games.”

Cam Johnson finished with 19 points, Cam Thomas added 14 off the bench and Nic Claxton pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds for Brooklyn, which will welcome Minnesota here Thursday.

Ben Simmons isn’t ready to rejoin the Nets, but the injured playmaker may be making an appearance with the team’s G-League affiliate on Long Island soon. AP Photo by Thibault Camus

NOTHING BUT NET: Nets coach Jacque Vaughn gave some injury updates prior to Tuesday’s loss. Ben Simmons, who has been out since Nov. 6 due to a nerve impingement in his back, is “improving”, according to Vaughn. The 6-foot-10 point guard will not play this week with Brooklyn, but could soon be assigned to the franchise’s G-League affiliate on Long Island. Key reserve Day’Ron Sharpe has missed the past five games with a hyperextended left knee and remains limited in what he can do at this point as he continues to work his way back. “Shooting free throws, dribbling the basketball, no other players around him. No setback, though, which is good,” Vaughn said of Sharpe. “He said he had been feeling the best since the injury. So, that was good to hear. So, hopefully, he just continues to improve because we do miss him.” … After hosting the Timberwolves Thursday, the Nets will take on Houston at Barclays on Saturday, Utah on Monday and Kevin Durant and Phoenix here next Wednesday.