The Empire Strikes Back

The Knicks went across the Brooklyn Bridge tonight, to take on their the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets. This was the second matchup between the two teams this season. The last time these two teams met, the Knicks ran out of gas in OT, while the Nets cruised to a 98-86 victory. Last time the Knicks were shorthanded not having Jason Kidd. This time the Nets were the ones shorthanded without Brook Lopez. The Knicks got off to a terrible start. Every shot was a brick, and defense was playing poorly. The Nets got off to a great start, and at one point led the game 21-7. It looked like it was going to be all Brooklyn again at the Barclays Center. After the first quarter, the Nets were up by 14 leading 30-16. Then, the Knicks, defending the empire known as New York City, began to fight back.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in the second quarter to get back into the fight. He closed the first half with 22 points and the Knicks were down by 4, trailing 53-49. For the rest of the game, the lead went back and forth. The Nets began to pull away, and the Knicks did their best to keep the Nets from going past 10 points. The game was tied at 97 with the clock ticking away it's final seconds. Jason Kidd, the former Nets star, sank a go ahead 3 pointer with 24 seconds left, and had a chance to make its four point game after he was fouled. He missed, but the Nets could not match it in the final seconds and the Knicks got their revenge with a 100-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. After the first quarter, the Knicks out scored the Nets 84-67. Carmelo Anthony, who lit up the Barclays Center, dropped 45 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jason Kidd, the game hero, had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. off the bench, JR Smith led the way with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist. On the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson had 18 and 16 points respectively. The lead scorer for Brooklyn was Andray Blatche who had 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
The Knicks victory even the season series against Brooklyn, and extends their record to 16-5 on the season. The next time these two team play it will in the worlds most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.