Knicks sweep Nets, secure home court advantage

The New York Knicks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 111-107, securing home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs with just one game remaining in the regular season.

Jalen Brunson led the charge for the Knicks with an impressive performance, contributing 30 points and 11 assists, while Josh Hart added 16 points and OG Anunoby chipped in 15 points.

With Isaiah Hartenstein sitting out for Achilles maintenance and Miles McBride sidelined with illness, the Knicks faced a challenging start to the game, struggling to score for nearly two quarters.

Trailing 45-28 midway through the second quarter, Brunson found his rhythm after a slow 0-6 start, scoring his first points with just over four minutes left until halftime with a couple of floating jump-shots. His efforts sparked a momentum shift for the Knicks, as they cut the deficit to single digits by halftime, with Hart hitting a buzzer-beating 28-foot three-pointer.

The Knicks carried their momentum into the third quarter, starting with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 63. They then seized the lead for the first time, 71-69, and maintained it until the final buzzer.

Going into the fourth quarter with a comfortable 94-83 lead, the Knicks seemed to be in control of the game. However, the Nets launched a spirited comeback, narrowing the deficit to just two points at 98-96 with four minutes remaining. Sensing an opportunity to disrupt the Knicks’ rhythm, the Nets resorted to a strategy commonly known as “hacking” or “intentional fouling” to send Mitchell Robinson to the free-throw line.

Robinson found himself targeted by the Nets’ deliberate fouling tactics, being sent to the charity stripe four consecutive times within a span of just one and a half minutes. Despite the pressure, Robinson remained composed and focused, converting his free throws with confidence. After going 1-2 on his first three attempts, Robinson sank both of his subsequent shots, effectively halting the Nets’ hacking strategy.

Robinson’s ability to deliver under pressure was indicative of his growth and resilience since returning from injury. In what could be considered his best performance since his comeback, Robinson finished the game with 15 points and 8 rebounds in just 25 minutes of play off the bench.

“I feel like I’m headed in the right direction. A couple things I still have to work on. Conditioning is the biggest one. Timing. Stuff like that.”

– Mitchell Robinson

Nets’ Cam Thomas put on a scoring clinic, dropping an impressive 41 points against the Knicks. His offensive firepower was particularly evident in the fourth quarter, where he single-handedly spearheaded the Nets’ comeback attempt with a remarkable 19-point scoring barrage. Thomas notched 11 points in each of the first two quarters, setting the tone for his stellar performance throughout the game.

Trenton Watford also made significant contributions for the Nets, tallying 17 points and a whopping 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Lonnie Walker IV provided a valuable spark off the bench, chipping in with 15 points to bolster the Nets’ offensive efforts.

Despite being out of the playoff race, the Nets displayed determination from the opening tip-off, fighting to avoid the season sweep. They stormed out of the gates by scoring the first 11 points of the game, setting the tone for a competitive matchup against the Knicks.

With the win, the Knicks solidified their position in the playoff standings, securing a coveted top 4 spot. However, their final seeding will be determined on Sunday afternoon, pending the outcomes of their last regular-season game and other key matchups.

The Knicks have the opportunity to clinch the second seed if they defeat the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks fall to the Orlando Magic. Conversely, a loss combined with a victory by the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Charlotte Hornets could see the Knicks slip to fourth place.

As the regular season draws to a close, the battle for playoff seeding intensifies, with multiple teams vying to secure favorable matchups in the first round. The race to avoid the play-in tournament remains tight, with teams such as the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers all tied, while the Miami Heat trail closely behind.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks have already solidified their positions in the ninth and tenth spots, respectively, as they prepare for the postseason.

Up-next: The Knicks (49-32) will host the Chicago Bulls (39-42) on Sunday at 1:00pm