© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks
The Brooklyn Nets are returning home to the Barclays Center from a lackluster West Coast road trip. Coach Jacque Vaughn and his team won a big game against the Lakers, but the Nets still fell to the Trail Blazers and Clippers.
Brooklyn wants to get back on track in this upcoming game against the New York Knicks. It will be a big challenge for both teams, but the Knicks have the advantage with their momentum from the previous matchup and an ongoing three-game winning streak.
Recent changes make the Knicks even better
Before the Knicks traded for OG Anunoby, the team was already a contender for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. New York is even more formidable because of OG’s defensive prowess and offensive stability. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has a roster of scrappy players that fit his preferred hard-nosed style.
To compete with the Knicks, Brooklyn has to play with good energy and grit. Coach Vaughn has reiterated that he wants his team to play with more intention after their stunning loss last time-out.
Dennis Smith Jr. provides the energy that helped them win against the Lakers. That energy was present in the Clippers game, so playing that way will lead to more wins for Brooklyn.
Offensively, the Nets will keep relying on Cameron Thomas and Mikal Bridges to score. They can do isolation plays, but Coach Vaughn would prefer they move the ball to find open shots. That led to their success against both LA teams, albeit the loss to the Clippers was a massive blown opportunity.
The Nets playing with more energy and pace can lead to a good result against a tough Knicks team. It will be a big test to defend Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, but Brooklyn has the personnel to win the game.
Injury report
The Nets’ injury report still looks the same as Ben Simmons and Day'Ron Sharpe, who are still out. However, both players are progressing well in their recovery, potentially solving the Nets’ issues with size when they come back. Additionally, rookie Dariq Whitehead was recently diagnosed with a left shin stress reaction with no timetable to return.
The Knicks are still without Mitchell Robinson, who has been out with a long-term ankle injury for a while now. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Knicks’ center rotation is thin because Isaiah Hartenstein is questionable for the game against Brooklyn.
