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In first NBA battle of New York this season, Nets beat Knicks 113-109
By InsideHoops.comOctober 26, 2019
9:00 a.m. ET
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In a fan-frezied, fun first NBA battle for New York of the season, the home team came out on top as the Brooklyn Nets beat the New York Knicks 113-109.It was new Nets star Kyrie Irving, fresh off a monster debut for his new squad, with the dagger, hitting a huge three-pointer with 22 seconds left that put the Nets up 111-109. Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie then hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left, and Irving stole the ball from Knicks guard Wayne Ellington as time expired.
"We all have a mutual respect, but obviously when they’re both in New York, I guess it’s like, it’s supposed to be like a rivalry atmosphere," said Irving, as he continues to adjust to his new NBA environment. "I don’t know. But I grew up watching the Nets and Knicks play and when the Nets used to go to MSG (Madison Square Garden) I think that was more of an emphasis on that. But now I think the Nets are happy to be in Brooklyn, it makes it a lot more fun. Go out there, hear the boo’s, see the Knicks fans out there, it’s all good."
For the Nets, Irving had 26 points and five assists, Dinwiddie finished with 20 points and five assists off the bench, Joe Harris hit 3-of-5 three-pointers and scored 13, Caris LeVert had 12 and a few too many turnovers (six), while Taurean Prince needed 10 shots for his 11 points, plus he grabbed six rebounds. Jarrett Allen was quiet offensively but did grab 11 rebounds.
In crunch time for the Nets, it was Irving and Dinwiddie together, not Irving and LeVert. On those key strech minutes, "I just felt comfortable with Spencer (Dinwiddie), more from a defensive standpoint," said Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson. "I thought Spencer was one of our better defenders. Just felt it when we went with our gut."
For the Knicks in the loss, guard Allonzo Trier, who came off the bench today was on fire: 6-of-7 FG, including three three-pointers, for 22 points in just 23 minutes. Kevin Knox was also loud off the bench, scoring 16 points on just eight shots. Starting rookie guard RJ Barrett also scored 16, but on 16 shots, though he did snatch an impressive six steals. Julius Randle had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but on 5-of-15 shooting, plus six turnovers.
"We have grit," said Knicks head coach David Fizdale after the game. "We have grit. We just have to put it together with consistent play and trust."
The Knicks point guard rotation will be worth watching regularly, as it's unclear who exactly deserves the majority of minutes at the position. Today, Dennis Smith Jr shot 0-of-4 off the bench, while Frank Ntilikina did not get to enter the game.
“I was just myself," said Trier. "I don’t think I did anything non-characteristic. I was aggressive on defense, made some shots. That’s what I can do. That’s what I bring to the table."
The Nets improved to 1-1 with tonight’s win, their first of the season, while the Knicks fell to 0-2.
Tonight’s win marked the Nets’ third straight victory over the Knicks and their third straight home win over their crosstown rivals.
The Nets faced the Knicks tonight in the second game of the season for the second straight year.
Brooklyn edged New York 21-13 in fast break points tonight.
The Nets also posted 20 fast break points in the season opener vs. Minnesota after not registering 20+ fast break points in consecutive games all of last season.
The Nets also outrebounded the Knicks 46-39 tonight.
Fizdale: "We have depth, we just have to get them all to play on the same night. That’s going to take time obviously, we’re only three weeks together. The fact that we have the grit that doesn’t lay down. Those are two playoff teams that we lost to on the road that we had a chance to win those games. Luckily we get a chance to play tomorrow."
Brooklyn led New York 94-83 through three quarters tonight. The 94 points tied for the second-most points the Nets have tallied through three quarters against the Knicks at home all-time (matching 94 points on 4/1/87, behind a team-high 95 points on 12/14/79).
The Nets also led the Knicks 32-23 at the end of tonight’s first quarter.
The Nets shot 10-of-12 from the FT line. Brooklyn attempted that many free throws in an opening period just once all of last season: Jan. 25 against the Knicks (also 10-of-12).
Irving led all scorers tonight with 26 points (8-of-19 FG, 8-of-8 FT) along with a game-high-tying five assists, two rebounds and three steals in 31 minutes vs. New York. He led all scorers with 15 points (8-of-8 FT) at the end of tonight’s first half and has now tallied 40 points in the first half of the first two games of the season combined.
Irving has totaled 76 points in his first two games as a Net, marking the most points tallied through the first two games of a season by a Net all-time (via Elias). The previous high was 66 points by Stephon Marbury in the 1999-00 season.
Dinwiddie shot 5-of-12 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line, with a game-high-tying five assists and one block in 27 minutes against the Knicks. Dinwiddie set the Nets single-season record for points scored off the bench (1,092) last season and finished second in franchise history in assists of the bench in a season (289).
Harris has shot 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from 3-point range through two games this season after becoming the first Net to lead the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage last season (.474).
Up next for Brooklyn: The Nets will travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies on Sunday, 10/27, at 7 p.m. ET.
Up next for New York: The Knicks will travel back across town to host the Celtics tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
MORE COMING. SEVERAL QUICK INTERVIEWS GOING UP TODAY.