New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets

Another lackluster season has unfolded for the Brooklyn Nets, which hardly raises eyebrows. They slipped out of the playoff race early on, and missing the play-in tournament is a significant letdown, particularly given the Eastern Conference’s relative weakness compared to the West. With a 26-55 record, the Nets have only secured one victory in their past five outings, languishing in 12th place in the East.

Despite trade rumors swirling around Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas all season, both remained with the team. There was hope they might be dealt for a suitable package, but no trade came to fruition. Truth be told, they’re the only players on the roster with notable trade value, consistently showing glimpses of talent that could make them assets on nearly any squad. Unfortunately, the rest of the team hasn’t provided the support needed to help them steer Brooklyn toward anything resembling success this year.

Conversely, the New York Knicks have made impressive strides. Crucially, they’re entering the playoffs with their core lineup healthy and primed, a vital factor for their postseason aspirations. Locked in as the No. 3 seed in the East with a 50-31 record, their recent three-game skid stems mostly from resting key players ahead of the postseason.

The blockbuster trade that sent Julius Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns stirred plenty of discussion at the season’s outset. Yet, Towns has arguably delivered the finest performance of his career in New York. His floor-spacing ability has brought a fresh dynamic to the Knicks’ attack, especially from three-point range. Paired with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have emerged as a sleeper threat in the East—one that opponents will dread facing. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see them upset a top contender en route to chasing their ultimate prize: an NBA championship.

The Brooklyn Nets have long been out of playoff contention and are locked into 12th place in the Eastern Conference—one position lower than last year and with at least five fewer wins on the season.

Still, they'll aim to end their campaign on a high note after back-to-back blowout losses: a 133-109 defeat to the Hawks on Thursday and a 117-91 loss to the Timberwolves the following day.

The Nets trail 0-3 in the season series against their upcoming opponent, with the last meeting—a 99-95 loss—taking place at this very venue in mid-January.

On the other hand, the New York Knicks have secured the third seed in the East and are expected to rest key players in preparation for their upcoming matchup with the Pistons.

The Knicks enter this game following a disappointing collapse against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, where they blew a 23-point lead and fell 108-102, largely due to Darius Garland's impressive performance.