The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will face off for the first time this season, reigniting their inter-borough rivalry. A tale of two teams heading in completely different directions, the matchup tips off Sunday, November 9th, inside Madison Square Garden.

New York has had a red-hot start to the 2025-26 regular season, logging a 5-3 record with a perfect 5-0 mark at home. Led by the dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks have also benefited from the steady contributions of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson — giving the team one of the most balanced starting units in the Eastern Conference.

Brooklyn, meanwhile, is looking to dig itself out of a deep early-season hole, entering the night with a 1-8 record. Their lone win came against the Indiana Pacers, and the team has since struggled to find rhythm, sending three of their five rookies to the G League while also navigating key injuries — most notably to Cam Thomas.

Another Streak on the Line

The Knicks aren’t just trying to protect their perfect home record — they’re also chasing history against Nets center Nic Claxton. New York has won 10 straight games against Claxton, a streak that dates back to January 2023.

It’s become somewhat of a running joke among fans, as Claxton once told the media that he had “never lost to the Knicks” during his NBA career. Since then, the tides have turned dramatically.

In 15 career games versus New York, Claxton has averaged 8.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists — numbers that reflect the physical battles he’s endured against the likes of Isaiah Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, and Towns.

Injury Report

For the first time this season, the Knicks aren’t listing a single player on their injury report. After three full days of rest, the team enters Sunday’s contest fully healthy, well-conditioned, and ready to extend their home dominance.

Brooklyn, however, will be without two crucial contributors: Cam Thomas and Haywood Highsmith. Thomas remains sidelined with a left hamstring strain suffered against the Pacers and is expected to miss 3–4 weeks. Highsmith continues to recover from right knee surgery and has yet to make his Nets debut this season.

The Nets will also be missing their three first-round rookies — Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, and Danny Wolf — who have all been reassigned to the G League in hopes of rebuilding confidence and development.

All eyes will be on the Knicks, who look to keep their foot on the gas pedal and extend their home record to 6-0 on the season. The Nets, on the other hand, enter desperate for a spark — and if there’s ever a night to turn things around, it’s against their crosstown rival under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.