The Nets are fresh off a tumultuous five-game road trip that saw them lose four games. It was a tough stretch for coach Jacque Vaughn and his players because they had to deal with injuries to Loonie Walker IV, Ben Simmons, and Dennis Smith Jr.
Now, Brooklyn is set to play the New York Knicks in their return to Barclays Center. This will be a tough game as the Knicks play tough defense while also being superb on offense, headlined by potential All-Star Jalen Brunson.
The Nets need to establish themselves on offense
Over the past few games, the Nets have struggled to get strong offensive performances from most of the team. The outliers are Spencer Dinwiddie, who has done a great job at distributing the rock, and Cameron Thomas, who has broken out as the team’s go-to scorer, headlined by his 41 points against the Golden State Warriors.
They will need assistance from the rest of the team, with Mikal Bridges being the most important player who needs to step up. He is averaging 21.9 points per game, but the past few games have been rough for him. This home game against the Knicks will be a fantastic matchup for him to bounce back against.
Apart from Mikal, Cameron Johnson has been a bit quiet over the past few games with his lackluster contributions on offense. He will likely shoot better in this game, as the Nets got ample rest after their western trip.
This matchup has gone in the Nets’ favor over the past 12 games with a 10-2 tally. Contrary to Knicks center Isiah Hartenstein’s thoughts on the rivalry, they have not been successful against the Nets recently.
Injury report
Before the game, the Nets were contending with three injuries, with Ben Simmons, Dennis Smith Jr., and Lonnie Walker IV sidelined; although their recoveries are progressing positively, they are not yet prepared for a return to the court.
On the Knicks’ side, Mitchell Robinson remains sidelined with his long-term ankle injury. Losing him is a big blow to the Knicks, as he was a superb rebounder and rim protector when he was active.
Jericho Sims is questionable against Brooklyn as he’s still nursing an ankle injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers.
This will be a fantastic matchup for both teams as they look to establish themselves in this inter-borough rivalry.
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