Knicks cruise over Nets in easy battle of the boroughs win

Knicks and Nets met in the first game of the Battle of the Boroughs and the orange and blue got the win. But the focus was not on the teams, it on the twins. The Lopez brothers got the main attention of the game and although Brook dominated the matchup, finishing with 21 points, it was Robin Lopez who walked away with the win.

The Knicks went on a 16-0 run early in the first quarter, with four consecutive three pointers from Arron Afflalo, Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony (2x), to put New York up 20-6 and head to the highest scoring quarter of the year. They basically trashed their opponents, outscoring them 42-21, with 3 quarters to play.

The Nets never recovered after the slow start and the only quarter when they put more points than the Knicks was the fourth, way to late for a comeback.

Joe Johnson finished with just 9 points and was ejected early in the final quarter after elbowing Jose Calderon in the face. Brook Lopez had 21. Nets’ coach, Lionel Hollins, dissappointed after the 108-91 loss to Madison Square Garden, called it a “nightmare”

I guess everybody can quit talking about rivalries.
– Lionel Hollins

Recently announced as Eastern Conference rookie of the month, Porzingis had another double-double game, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, with half of his numbers coming in the first quarter, right under the eyes of his parents.

My individual success is always secondary. The first is the team. If we can win, I’m happy.
– Kristaps Porzingis

Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, combined with the Latvian rookie to score New York’s first 14 points in the opening of the third quarter.

Calderon, although putting up just one point, had a season high 10 assists, and at 34 years he’s getting closer and closer to what he’s expected after a very sloppy start of the season.

Afflalo had 18 points while Lance Thomas added 9 off the bench. Langston Galloway contributed with 8 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

The Knicks are now back to .500 after the win over the Sixers while the Nets continue to maintain their position just above of Philadelphia, at the bottom of the Eastern conference.