Knicks vs. Nets | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

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In order to “get out of the way” for the national championship game on Monday, the NBA has scheduled every game to tip off before 8 p.m. ET and arguably the marquee matchup is Knicks at Nets. Brooklyn will be favored on the NBA odds but by how much depends on injury questions to James Harden and Kevin Durant.

How to Bet Knicks at Nets NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 7 PM ET
Where: Barclays Center
TV: NBA TV
Stream:com, NBA TV app
Radio:com
NBA Odds: TBA (Nets will be favored)

Last Meeting

Brooklyn leads the season series 2-0 and this is the finale. The Nets won the most recent meeting 117-112 on March 15 at home. New York battled back to get within three-points before a late call against Julius Randle ended the Knicks hopes. Randle paced the Knicks with 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Brooklyn was led by Kyrie Irving’s 34 points. James Harden had 21 points, 15 assists and 15 rebounds. Kevin Durant was out injured.

Why Bet on New York? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Knicks (25-25) ended a three-game skid Saturday with a 125-81 blowout win in Detroit. Former Piston Reggie Bullock was terrific, going 8-for-12 from the field and 6-for-10 from deep for 22 points with five rebounds.

All-Star Julius Randle had 29 points (9-of-16 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists and five 3-pointers. With the Knicks ultimately so far ahead, Randle was able to get some much-needed rest during the fourth quarter. Bullock and Julius Randle came out on fire, combining to score 27 of the Knicks’ first 30 points in a game that they never trailed. In his last three games, Bullock has shot a combined 12-of-23 from beyond the arc.

Elfrid Payton had 11 points, six rebounds, nine assists, two steals, one block and one 3-pointer in 25 minutes. The nine assists were a season-high for Payton and equaled his output from the prior five games combined.

New York leads the NBA in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense. Offensively, the Knicks have the third-highest 3PT% differential this season relative to last season, from 33.7% to 37.2% (Brooklyn leads the NBA, 34.3% to 39.2% and LA Clippers are second, 37.1% to 41.4%).

RJ Barrett’s godfather is Nets head coach, Steve Nash. Nets assistant coach, Amar’e Stoudemire, played for the Knicks for five seasons (2010-15). Nets assistant coach, Mike D’Antoni, was the Knicks head coach for parts of four seasons.

Why Bet on Brooklyn? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Nets (34-16) were upset 115-107 in Chicago on Sunday to snap a four-game winning streak – Chicago had lost six in a row and won for the first time since acquiring All-Star center Nikola Vucevic before the trade deadline from Orlando. The Nets had won five straight and 10 of 12 but played without stars James Harden and Kevin Durant. Needless to say, the spread for this game will depend on them.

Kyrie Irving had a season-high 15 assists in the loss, adding 24 points, two rebounds and two steals. He shot 12-of-27 from the field but failed to hit a three-pointer for just the fourth time this season. It was also Irving’s third straight double-double, a feat he has not accomplished since March of 2019 when he was a member of the Celtics.

Key reserve guard Landry Shamet tweaked his right ankle during the loss and finished with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting, three 3-pointers, two rebounds and one assist. He’s obviously in question here. Another reserve guard, Tyler Johnson, limped off the court on Sunday with a knee injury and surely won’t play.

The Nets are first in effective FG % (.576), seventh in FTA rate (.257), 12th in turnover % (.137) and 19th in offensive rebound % (.258). Brooklyn is 11th in opponent effective FG % (.533), 11th in opponent FTA rate (.234), 29^th in opponent turnover % (.125) and 19th in opponent offensive rebound % (.270). Brooklyn leads the league in points per isolation possession (1.06) and isolation ppg (12.3), while running the most iso plays/game (11.7).

Brooklyn is 22-3 when scoring 120+ points, 16-3 when shooting .500 FG%, 14-3 when posting 30+ assists, 26-6 when holding an opponent under 120 points (9-0 under 100) and 27-1 when tied/leading through three quarters. Brooklyn is 25-4 (15-1 at home) on Mondays – Thursdays this season.

The Nets are 5-4 in the second game of a back-to-back this season.