Nets at Knicks
The New York Knicks' five-game losing streak began with a loss to crosstown rival Brooklyn earlier this month. They will try to snap that string in a rematch when the Nets visit Madison Square Garden for the first time this season Monday night.
Both teams suffered losses to the Golden State Warriors over the weekend, with the Knicks stepping up first with a 128-100 loss to the defending champion Warriors on Friday to open a three-game homestand. "I saw our young guys. I just saw that look of, alright, we've done enough tonight. We played hard enough," New York coach David Fizdale told reporters after his team was outscored 47-16 in the fourth quarter. "I just got to get these guys to understand how to play 48 minutes. Right now we’re playing college ball." The Nets had a much better fourth quarter against Golden State but they were outplayed in the first three en route to a 120-114 loss Sunday. D'Angelo Russell had 25 points, six rebounds and six assists in the defeat.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE NETS (2-4): Russell was 5-for-8 from 3-point range and Caris LeVert finished 4-for-7 as Brooklyn buried 20 3-pointers Sunday, seven in the fourth quarter. "The way the first half went we easily could have kind of folded and that's not what kind of guys we have in that locker room," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "They're a resilient bunch and I thought they competed their tails off and it was good for the fans to see that we didn't just succumb to their talent or their aura so to speak." Russell is averaging 24.5 points while making 11-of-17 from 3-point range in the last two games.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (1-5): Friday's loss came after Fizdale shuffled the starting lineup, moving veteran big man Enes Kanter to the bench. "He wants me to lead the second unit," Kanter, who started all of his 71 games last season and the first five in 2018-19, told the media. "That’s what I’m going to do, go out there and lead the second unit. Just keep leading them." Kanter had 13 rebounds in 20 minutes against Golden State and is averaging 11.2 on the season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks SG Tim Hardaway Jr. has scored at least 24 points in five of the first six games.
2. LeVert is averaging 21.3 points while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor.
3. New York swept four meetings last season.