Nets 114, Knicks 112: Scenes from yet another failed effort to beat a quality team

The New York Knicks can hang a 44-point beating on the Pistons of the world, but it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference when it comes time to play a good NBA squad. The Knicks even caught a break early, when James Harden left the game in the first quarter with an injury. In the end, it didn’t matter. The Nets still had Kyrie Irving, and that was enough.

Kyrie massacred the Knicks with 40 points, and Jeff Green (who has killed them this season) was fouled when the Knicks failed to secure a key rebound. Julius Randle had a look for the tie, but it didn’t go in. The ball never seems to go in when the Knicks need it to against these teams.

Anyway, the game was really lost in the third quarter. New York came out of halftime with a 10-point advantage, but played like ass on both sides of the ball, turning it over and not getting back in transition. The Nets regained the lead by the end of the third and looked primed to run away with it in the fourth, if not for the clutch shot-making of RJ Barrett (7-13, 22 points).

Brooklyn looked primed to put the game away late when premier defensive point guard Elfrid Payton waived away help, only to watch Kyrie bury a three in his face. Fortunately, Alec Burks had the medicine.

If the Knicks could rebound, they might have walked away with this one. Alas.

Recap to come.