So the Brooklyn Nets are very talented. If they do not stop injuries, it is probably the favorite to win it all summer. The Knicks are not nearly as talented, which is struggling. But the battle against Thibodeaus usually does not fall without a fight. They made the Nets sweat, but unfortunately they just did not have enough to beat Brooklyn and the refs.
The first half was a little weird. The Knicks played Brooklyn close in the first quarter thanks to the hot shot from Reggie Bullock.
The game fell to them early in the second quarter in a four-minute stretch when the bench came in and absolutely fell on the gray floor of Brooklyn. Obi Toppin, who would possibly play him out of the rotation, was a staggering -12 in just 3:43.
Still, the Knicks were technically in the game, with 12 to half. They knocked Brooklyn’s lead to seven early in the fourth quarter, thanks to the work of a ridiculously overworked Julius Randle. The Nets continued to push their lead to double figures, but these Knicks are a stubborn fate. They reduced Brooklyn’s lead to four, with just under four minutes left, and we dare to hope. Alec Burks, Frank Ntilikina, however, could not hit the big three completely when it mattered, and the patented offense of the Nets “dropped and the refs will call an offense every time” saved them.
New York made the Nets sweat further in the final seconds and scored within three, but an important spring ball was decided as a foul.
Cue Tom Thibodeau: Coaching Challenge Guru. The call was reversed and New York had the ball with another 5 seconds left. Julius Randle had the ball, and Kyrie Irving tipped it to the point, and the refs had another chance to screw the Knicks, as they call it a turnover. Randle was not happy.
Tons go on at the end of this one. Matt Miranda will have the overview. Good night to everyone except Scott Foster.