Nets vs Knicks Recap: The Ex Net Kills

The second edition of this new rivalry starts with a new player in the starting lineup for the Nets,which was Reggie Evans. His energy seemed to be contagious and that turned into a five to nothing lead early in the first quarter. Joe Johnson seemed to have a pep in his step, making a fade-away jump shot over Carmelo Anthony. Brooklyn got off to a 10 to 3 lead before a Mike Woodson timeout. Jason Kidd made the only field goal for the Knicks but was picked on when he had to play defensive. Andray Blatche scored a quick 10 points and the Nets looked to jump out on the Knicks early. Forcing Ronnie Brewer to shoot consecutive jump shots was a great strategy and on the offensive end, the Nets took advantage on a couple of mismatches. Along with that was the great vision and pacing by Deron Williams, finding players for layups or putting them in positions to find a open player. Their was another timeout made by Mike Woodson but that still didn't work. The Nets were playing hard and simply playing good defense. The score was 7 to 23 but the Knicks would make a run. Anthony would hit 2 consecutive shots and then other would hit some shots. To close the quarter, Williams would hit a tough layup and the Nets would lead 16 to 30. Blatche had the game high with 12 points.

The Nets opened up the second quarter with the ball and the first points belonged to MarShon Brooks. Rasheed Wallace would answer with a three but, Brooks would convert on another jump shot that lead to a foul and a made free throw. Later in the quarter, Mike Woodson put Anthony at center position which basically put Kris Humphries on a island. Anthony would hit a 3 to bring the lead to 12 causing Avery Johnson to use a timeout. After that , the Nets rewarded Marshon with another layup, giving him nine points. A transition three by Anthony brought the lead down to 11 and was a potential momentum swinger. Reggie Evans would answer but that basket by Anthony gave the Knicks crowd a voice. Raymond Felton would provide some action with strong drives, bringing the Knicks within 9. The momentum was strong and it turned the Nets offense into individual battles,or quick screens for Williams, which were ineffective. He would however answer with two shots from the free throw line to bring the "Home" crowd into it. Carmelo would go on a 5 point spurt to end the second quarter with 22 on 8 of 13 shooting. The Nets would still lead by 5 though, 53 to 49.

Jason Kidd opened up the second half with a three, to bring the lead Nets lead down to 1. Felton would hit a jump shot and give the Knicks their first lead. Williams would return a confident three but Anthony would continue his hot three point shooting. He was 4 of 5 from the three and already had 25 points. Deron Williams was looking more aggressive shooting and made two more field goals. Joe Johnson has been producing on facets of the game. On top of that, he was making his jump-shots. On the other hand  Williams had to sit down committing his fourth foul. But Blatche would continue to be an offensive bright spot, cutting to open spots and finishing strong at the rim. The Knicks would still hang around shooting 52 percent from 3. This quarter was a battle of the stars. It was basically Anthony, vs the Nets backcourt for most of the quarter. J.R. Smith ended it with a jump shot from the top of the key to cut the lead down to 5.

Williams would come in at the beginning of the fourth and he would set up Blatche for some free throws. He would sit down after picking up a quick foul, giving him a total of four.  J.R. Smith would hit a few shots but that was forgotten when Williams set up Gerald Wallace with a baseline dunk off a gorgeous bounce pass. That gave Williams 9 assists and Wallace 12 points. The game would be close in the fourth quarter as the Knicks were hot from 3 all night. Anthony had a number of open shots too and he hit a key 3 pointer to bring them within 1. His made field goal also caused Avery to call another timeout. Teams would trade baskets but Jason Kidd hit another three to tie at 91. Two possessions later, Anthony would score a quick two to put them ahead at 93. After the timeout, Deron Williams would create a foul out of misdirection play and he would only make one. After the missed free throw, Anthony was called for a lane violation and a loose ball foul, sending Wallace to the line. He would miss one out of two and got injured on a collision with Smith. He would stay in the game but the Nets were still losing by two. Off an isolation play, Williams shot and miss but Wallace was there to get the tip-in and tie it. With the score tied at 97, Jason Kidd would hit a three that ended up being the game-winner. The Nets had  two chances to tie but Wallace and Williams both missed threes and the game was lost.

This game was definitely won on the three point line. The New York Knicks finished shooting 50 percent from 3. Jason Kidd, who had 18 points made 6 and Carmelo Anthony had 5. He finished with a game high 45 also. The game should have been the Nets but they couldn't sustain their defensive intensity they showed in the first half. Carmelo Anthony was his usual self, but Jason Kidd was  SPECIAL. Along with his 18 points, he dished out 6 assists and hit a clutch shut against his former team.

Despite the loss, Reggie Evans played great. He grabbed 18 rebounds and scored 5 points. Kris Humphries played only 8 minutes. Maybe the Nets would have pulled it out if he would have had  more minutes but I maybe reaching. In the meanwhile, the Nets are on a five game losing streak  and they face the Toronto Raptors tomorrow night. Hopefully they can end that and get back to Brooklyn Basketball instead of  New Jersey Net basketball.

Final Score: 100-97 Knicks
Most Disappointing Stats of the Game: 14 Three pointers made for the Knicks.
Promising Stat of the Game: Joe Johnson shot 50 percent from the field.
Scary Moment of the Game: Gerald Wallace collided with J.R. Smith late in the fourth.
Best Moment of the Game: Baseline Dunk by Gerald Wallace.

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