NBA: New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets
NEW YORK (77 WABC) – Game one goes to the boys from Brooklyn.
In the first edition of the new-look Battle of the Boroughs, the Brooklyn Nets can lay claim to running New York for now after defeating the New York Knicks 113-109 at Barclays Center. However, the Brooklyn win didnt come without drama as the Knicks rallied from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to close the gap and force Kyrie Irving, who finished the game with 26 points, to play hero for a second consecutive game.
The new Nets star delivered knocking down a pullup jumper and step-back three-pointer to his squad in front 111-109 in the closing minute of the game.
“That was a heck of a step-back he hit on the right side,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It was some shot. Happy for him. I thought he played really well again, really well.”
It seemed like a fitting end after Irving couldnt get a last-second shot to drop in Wednesday season opener against Minnesota that would have won the game. It also seemed to fit the script considering who the Nets opponent was on Friday night.
Kyrie Irving 3-pointer gives the Nets a two-point lead with 22 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/YMd67KYrtW
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) October 26, 2019
The Knicks had been desperate to sign superstars during the offseason, eyeing both Irving and fellow free agent Kevin Durant. Both ended up signing in Brooklyn after the Knicks also failed to land the first overall pick in the June draft.
So the Knicks entered Fridays game, on paper, as the underdog to the revamped Nets, which were looking to capitalize on their newfound foothold in the rivalry. And the addition of two players who chose to go across the East River to Brooklyn rather than Manhattan only added to things.
The Nets even gave away free Irving jerseys to fans entering the building.
“Giving out the Kyrie jerseys, that really helped out a lot,” Jarrett Allen said. “Just having everything thrown in the Knicks’ face like ‘ha-ha-ha.’ I think it had a little weight on their side plus we got the win, too.”
However, Irving tried to downplay his role in all of it.
“Its like a battle for who runs New York City,” Irving said. “Im not part of that. Its a good team down there in New York City, Manhattan. I think its more or less the perspective of the fans that really build that up than the players. We all have mutual respect, but obviously when theyre both in New York, I guess its like, its supposed to be like a rivalry atmosphere.”
The Barclays Center certainly came alive during the second half as the Knicks worked their way back into the game. Things even took a chippy turn in the second quarter when Irving and Bobby Portis got into a wrestling match for the ball, which eventually turned into a shoving match as more Knicks and Nets joined the fray.
It was a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter by the visiting Manhattanites that saw the Nets 104-94 lead quickly evaporate.
Julius Randle hit a pair of buckets and Wayne Ellington knocked down two three-pointers to tie the game at 104 with 4:23 left in the contest. Ellington hit another shot beyond the arc moments later to give the Knicks a one-point lead and an RJ Barrett layup put the Knicks up 109-106 with the clock down to just 3:41.
First W of the season in the books for Kenny Atkinson & the @BrooklynNets! pic.twitter.com/ZASIaK4O8A
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 26, 2019
“We started really defending,” New York coach Dave Fizdale said about the fourth-quarter effort. “We gave up three-quarters of 30 points each prior to that. We really dug in defensively in that fourth quarter and made it harder for Brooklyn.”
Thats when Irving stepped in for his late-game heroics.
Still, Fridays performance was a better one overall for the victorious Nets. Unlike their overtime loss on Wednesday, the Nets managed to maintain control of the after Iriving checked out in the first half. The bench, led by Spencer Dinwiddies 20 point effort, helped Brooklyn extend their lead to double digits.
“I think everybody calmed down and gelled together better,” Allen said about the difference between Friday and Wednesday
