Knicks Ascend While Nets Descend: Battle of New York's Contrasting Teams

Knicks seek to extend their lead over Nets as they host them in the final regular-season game on Wednesday. The Brooklyn Nets' run to the NBA Finals has included a multi-season stretch of dominance over its closest rival. There may not be a better time to start writing a similar scenario for the New York Knicks.

Knicks aim to widen gap from Nets in last regular-season game on Wednesday, showcasing their growth and development. The Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 109-94 on Monday for their sixth straight win. The Nets will clinch the back-to-back series on Tuesday night after falling to the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 118-104.

Knicks' victory on Monday secured a hot streak in February, advancing them past the Nets into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn trails NYK by 1 game and leads the 7th-place Miami Heat by 1.5 games for the final playoff spot. The Knicks finished 9-2 last month, falling only to the Los Angeles Clippers (134-128 overtime) on February 4 and the host of the Philadelphia 76ers (119-108) six days later.

Knicks' streak was against playoff teams, including the Nets, whose nine-game winning streak in New York ended in February.

"We want to push," Knicks guard Josh Hart said Monday night. "We don't want to make the playoffs - we want to make the playoffs. I think that's the biggest thing and we have a chance to do it."

The Nets' chances of building a championship have faded over the last seven weeks. Since going 14 games over .500 on the season on January 8, Brooklyn has gone 7-14 while trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to complete the dismantling of a potential super team.

Milwaukee's loss served as a reminder of what could happen to the NBA champion Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2021. Durant forced overtime in Game 7. Foot on the 3-point bracket.

A 10-0 run by Mikal Bridges, one of the four Brooklyn starters acquired in the Irving and Durant trades on Tuesday, gave the Nets a 76-66 lead less than seven minutes into the third quarter. .

However, the Bucks' big three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton combined for 19 points in a 25-9 run. Milwaukee held a double-digit lead for the final 8:56 en route to its 15th straight victory.

According to the New York Post, Bridges said: "We didn't have a turnover, we didn't go back. Then Giannis went, got to the line, got one and ate them and kept them. go back, that's the idea. . . . .. He dominated the second half, but it started with us in the third".

Coach Waak Won said Nets' good start gave them a chance at halftime against the opponent. We can continue to do that," he said.

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