NBA champions go for a win in the derby. New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets prediction
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will meet on the night of Tuesday, November 3, on the court at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 a.m. Central European Time. I am backing a bet on the winner of this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Brooklyn have won just one of their six games this season.
- The Knicks have suffered one defeat in their last three games.
- The Knicks have beaten the Nets in 14 consecutive regular-season NBA games.
New York Knicks
New York have made a less convincing start to the regular season than their fans had hoped. After six games, Mike Brown's team have two wins and four losses on their record. The Knicks lost their first three games of the season, but the team then managed to turn things around and climb to ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
The turning point came with back-to-back wins over Detroit and Chicago. In the first game, New York defeated the Pistons 111-97, with Karl-Anthony Towns recording an impressive double-double of 27 points and 20 rebounds. The Knicks then engaged in a high-scoring shootout with the Bulls and won on the road, 133-127. Jalen Brunson was the star of the game, scoring 38 points and dishing out seven assists.
However, they were unable to build on that success. In their most recent game against Philadelphia, New York lost 93-98. In the decisive minutes, the opponents were more accurate and made better use of their opportunities. As a result, the Knicks' winning streak was halted once again.
Brunson and Towns remain the team's key figures. The former is averaging 25.5 points and 5.2 assists per game, while the latter is contributing 21.8 points and an impressive 13.5 rebounds. New York rank fifth in the league in rebounds, although their scoring output still leaves plenty to be desired.
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Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn are enduring a difficult start to the season. After six games, the team have recorded just one win and sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Until recently, the Nets had not won a single game, suffering five straight defeats. Losses to Charlotte (103-110), Cleveland (121-125), Indiana (109-136), Boston (124-125 in overtime), and Detroit (94-110) highlighted just how inconsistent the team have been at the start of the campaign.
The defeat to Boston was particularly painful. Brooklyn scored 124 points and came within touching distance of stopping one of the Eastern Conference favorites, but ultimately lost by the narrowest of margins in overtime. A complete collapse against Detroit followed, and the team clearly lack consistency at both ends of the floor.
Finally, on November 1, Brooklyn snapped their losing streak by beating Indiana on the road, 98-90. Michael Porter Jr. was the star of the game with 23 points. Julius Randle added 20 points, while Day'Ron Sharpe posted 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Randle and Porter Jr. are the Nets' primary offensive leaders. Both are capable of scoring in bunches and taking control in difficult moments. Attention should also be paid to young Nolan Traore, who scored 16 points in the most recent game.
What should you bet on?
New York look the more appealing side ahead of this latest derby. Despite their inconsistent start to the season, the Knicks have a more balanced roster. Brooklyn can still make this a competitive contest thanks to the individual talent of their leaders, but playing a second game in two days could affect the visitors' physical condition. The battle in the paint will be a key factor, and that is where Towns and company could have the edge. My recommendation is to back the Nets with a +18-point handicap.
