Monday night’s NBA slate features a Battle of the Boroughs, with the Brooklyn Nets hosting the New York Knicks at Barclays Center.
The Knicks (9–6, 6th East) have lost three of their last five games and remain icy on the road, having won just once outside the World’s Most Famous Arena. The Nets (3–13, 13th East), meanwhile, have won two of their last four matchups but enter Monday’s contest on the second leg of a back-to-back and still winless at home.
The inner-city rivals squared off at Madison Square Garden back on Nov. 9, where the Knicks rolled to a 36-point annihilation — their 11th straight win over the Nets.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
New York Knicks
- Out: OG Anunoby (hamstring), Landry Shamet (shoulder)
- Questionable: Mitchell Robinson (illness)
Brooklyn Nets
- Out: Cam Thomas (hamstring), Haywood Highsmith (knee), Ben Saraf (ankle)
- Probable: Nick Claxton (quad)
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks enter as heavy 13.5-point road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Nets are listed as +600 underdogs. The game’s total is set at 228.5 points.
Knicks vs. Nets Preview
New York Knicks Preview
The Knicks are capable of much more than what they’ve shown so far this season. New York, just two wins away from its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 last season, bolstered its bench depth and brought in a new head coach to finally prevail in the Eastern Conference. While they’ve been virtually invincible when playing at MSG, their weaknesses are exposed as soon as they venture beyond 34th Street.
Offense isn’t the issue. The Knicks rank third in the NBA in offense rating, sitting just outside the top five in points per game while allowing the third fewest turnovers in the sport. New York is also one of the top rebounding teams in the league, fueled by a relentless effort on the offensive glass.
The Knicks feature a well-rounded, perimeter-focused attack led by Jalen Brunson, who averages 28.4 points and 6.8 assists per game. Karl-Anthony Towns adds 21.7 points and 12.5 rebounds a night, with four additional Knicks — Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson, and Miles McBride — averaging double-digit point totals.
Where the Knicks really struggle is on defense. New York teeters on having a bottom-third defensive rating — an issue exacerbated by the absences of Anunoby, Shamet, and potentially Robinson, if he sits on Monday. The team particularly struggles to defend the three, allowing opponents to shoot a scorching 39.1% from long range, the fourth-worst mark in the NBA.
Brooklyn Nets Preview
Fortunately for the Knicks, there are far worse problems on the other side of the East River. Brooklyn is a franchise in free fall, one that ranks near the bottom of the barrel in offensive (24th), defensive (29th), and net rating (26th).
The Nets score the second-fewest points per game on the fourth-worst field-goal percentage — and that’s with Cam Thomas in the lineup. Michael Porter Jr. has been incredible in his first season in downtown Brooklyn, averaging 24.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game — all career highs. But with Thomas out, Brooklyn’s offensive scheme is excruciatingly one-dimensional.
The struggles continue on the other end. The Nets are the worst rebounding team in the league, with Nick Claxton leading the team with 7.8 boards a night — not ideal. Meanwhile, opponents are shooting over 50% from the field and just short of 40% from beyond the arc against them, both the second-worst marks in the NBA.
Knicks vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet
The Knicks, hampered by their defense, have tended to play down to their competition on the road this season. Their lone victory outside of Madison Square Garden was a narrow win over the Dallas Mavericks — who didn’t have Anthony Davis or Cooper Flagg.
That shouldn’t be the case on Monday night. One of the few teams that struggles to defend the three more than New York is its crosstown rival, and the Knicks have more than enough offensive firepower to capitalize.
While they’ve stumbled on the road, the Knicks seemingly always find a way to beat the Nets — winning 11 straight matchups dating back to February 2023. Count on the Knicks to cruise over the Brooklyn Bridge and take care of business in a convincing fashion.
