The Brooklyn Nets have already earned a playoff spot, but the team is trying to keep momentum in their favor as they finished out their last two games of the regular season. Their remaining schedule does not have them facing playoff caliber teams and unfortunately for Knicks fans, that includes New York. After being eliminated from the postseason, Mike Woodson will sit Carmelo Anthony, making the final Battle of New York rather uneventful.
The Nets are still fighting for something. The team is looking to nail down the No. 5 seed which could happen by beating the Knicks on Tuesday. Brooklyn currently leads the Washington Wizards by 1 ½ games with the Wizards holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. Keeping the no. 5 seed means avoiding the Miami Heat in the first round.
Much of Brooklyn's success lately is coming from the bench. Mason Plumlee is averaging 14.8 points in his last five games while Mirza Teletovic is putting up 15.0 in his last three. Now the Nets have won seven of their last 10 games including 17 of their last 18 home games.
The matchups between the Knicks and Nets have been lopsided every time. Brooklyn lost by 30 back in December and 29 earlier in April. However, they beat the Knicks 103-80 back in January. Anthony has put up double-doubles in each of those games but is not expected to play Tuesday after Mike Woodson announced his plans to shut the All-Star down after complaining of a sore shoulder.
Brooklyn is preparing to face either the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs, two teams New York recently beat. The Knicks have won 14 of their last 19 games including eight of 11 road games.
