The first time the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets met this season it was a battle of the losers. Both teams were in the midst of terrible losing streaks as their seasons were being deemed as over just a few weeks after they began. However, round two is much different. Both teams have put together some impressive wins as they aim to turn their years around.
The Nets are back from their overseas trip where they dominated the Atlanta Hawks at the O2 Arena in London.The 127-110 win was the team's sixth victory in seven games. Joe Johnson continued his shooting success with 26 points in this first half alone. Andray Blatche added 20 points while Pail Pierce, Alan Anderson and Kevin Garnett all reached double-figures in points.
The Knicks will likely face both Deron Williams and Pierce this time around after not seeing them last month. Williams has missed the past five games after receiving cortisone shots in both of his ankles. The team also acquired Marquis Teague in a trade that could help while Williams works to get back into the lineup.
The Knicks have hit another skid. After winning five-straight games from Jan. 5-13, they have dropped another three-straight games. They shot just 34.9 percent against the Los Angeles Clippers. After putting together their best season against the Nets earlier in the year when multiple players reached double-figures, the Knicks have dipped once again. Now they open with am eight-game homestand at Madison Square Garden where they are merely 7-13 on the season.
The Knicks hope to look like the team they were last month when the two teams played. New York shot 57.1 percent from the field while going 59.3 percent from beyond the arc. Brooklyn has the momentum but New York has the home-court advantage if they can make use of it.
