Nets-Knicks Is A Real Rivalry: A Recap

Barclays Center
2016 DNC Host? (AP)

November 26, 2012, Barclays Center:

Nets 96, Knicks 92 (OT)

Reggie Evans, Tyson Chandler
Reggie Evans & the Brooklyn Nets took a 1-0 lead in the inaugural borough matchup. (AP)

The rivalry was supposed to kick off in grand fashion, with the Nets opening the Brooklyn era with a regular season opener against the Knicks at Barclays Center. But Mother Nature had other plans. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, citing the effects of Superstorm Sandy, postponed the game until November 26th. The amped crowd was mixed with dueling chants from both sides, but what was certain was the days of Knicks fans crowding the Meadowlands for a de facto home game were over.

Carmelo Anthony had a game-high 35 points in the back-and-forth affair, but the Brooklyn-born forward missed a go-ahead jumper with seven seconds remaining in regulation and the game knotted at 84. Moments earlier, Brook Lopez, who notched 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, tied the game at the line on his first free throw before missing his second attempt.

Tyson Chandler, who scored a career-high 28 points and added 11 boards, led off overtime with a man’s jam, but it was all Nets after that. The Nets outscored the Knicks 12-5 in the extra frame to win the first Borough Brawl in Brooklyn. Deron Williams had 16 points and 14 assists while his Knicks counterpart Raymond Felton had a patented Feltdown, going 3-19 from the floor for eight points and 5 assists.

It might be easy to forget – if your name isn’t Devin Kharpertian – just how insanely age-defying assistant coach backup swingman Jerry Stackhouse played. The nineteen year vet, wearing #42 in honor of Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson, scored fourteen points, shooting 4-5 from three point land. He followed it up with a five-for-six from deep performance against Paul Pierce and the Celtics. We knew it wouldn’t last, but damn, was it fun.

Next: December 11, 2012