Nets' Fourth-Quarter Collapse Leads to Loss Against Knicks

The Brooklyn Nets appeared to have a chance to finally end their losing streak against the New York Knicks on Monday night, but a disastrous fourth quarter turned a competitive game into another frustrating loss. Despite overcoming an early deficit and taking a five-point lead in the second half, Brooklyn ran out of answers down the stretch, falling 103-90 at Madison Square Garden.

The loss drops the Nets to 1-6 on the season, while the Knicks improve to 3-4. More importantly, Brooklyn has now lost 15 consecutive regular-season games against its crosstown rival, with its last victory coming on January 28, 2023.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back after picking up their first win of the season against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, the Nets welcomed Mikel Brown Jr. back to the lineup after he missed the previous game. Brooklyn got off to a decent start, with Michael Porter Jr. and Nolan Traoré helping the visitors build an early advantage.

However, New York quickly took control behind Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. Three-pointers from Brunson helped fuel a 10-0 Knicks run, putting Brooklyn in an early hole. Traoré and Porter responded with three-pointers of their own, but New York continued to find success from beyond the arc. Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride each knocked down multiple shots from deep, helping the Knicks take a 27-21 lead after the first quarter.

Brooklyn completely changed the momentum to begin the second quarter. Julius Randle got things started with a pair of baskets, and Noah Clowney followed with an offensive rebound and putback to tie the game. Keon Ellis then came up with a steal and converted a three-pointer, capping a 12-0 run that carried over from the first quarter and gave the Nets a 30-27 advantage.

The teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the half, with Traoré continuing to provide an offensive spark and Shamet answering nearly every Brooklyn run. Shamet was particularly effective against his former team, scoring 14 points before halftime. Brunson added 13, while Karl-Anthony Towns was held scoreless through the first two quarters.

Traoré led Brooklyn with 11 points at the break, while Randle had eight points and seven rebounds. Despite holding New York to just 36% shooting from the field, the Nets trailed 51-44 at halftime after allowing the Knicks to knock down 10 three-pointers.

The third quarter was easily Brooklyn's best stretch of the night. After falling behind by as many as nine points, the Nets gradually worked their way back into the game. Porter began taking over offensively, while Brown provided a much-needed spark attacking the basket. Chaney Johnson also knocked down a three-pointer to help keep Brooklyn within striking distance.

Porter caught fire as the quarter progressed, scoring 13 points in the period alone. His back-to-back three-pointers helped fuel a 13-0 Brooklyn run, turning a seven-point deficit into a 73-69 lead. Mo Wagner also connected from beyond the arc during the stretch, giving the Nets some much-needed offensive momentum.

Randle continued contributing on both ends of the floor, and his trips to the free-throw line helped Brooklyn maintain its advantage. The Nets outscored New York 35-24 in the third quarter and entered the final period with a 79-75 lead, their largest advantage of the night.

Unfortunately, everything fell apart from there.

Josh Hart opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer before Anunoby knocked down back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to put New York back in front. Randle briefly brought Brooklyn within three points, but the Knicks quickly seized control.

Hart came up with a steal and converted a fast-break layup, and Jordan Clarkson followed with a three-pointer to extend New York's advantage. Suddenly, what had been a competitive game was turning into a blowout. The Knicks put together a 16-2 run to take an 91-81 lead, leaving Brooklyn scrambling for answers.

Traoré briefly stopped the bleeding with a three-pointer, but New York continued piling on. Another 9-0 run pushed the lead to 100-84, and the Nets never seriously threatened again. Brooklyn managed just 11 points in the entire fourth quarter, getting outscored 28-11 in the final period after doing so much to put itself in position to win.

Randle finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, recording his first double-double as a member of the Nets. Porter added 18 points, while Traoré contributed 17 points and four assists. Brown finished with 13 points in his return to the lineup.

For New York, Shamet led all scorers with 22 points against his former team. Brunson finished with 19 points and six assists, while Anunoby added 18 points. Towns recovered from his scoreless first half to finish with 11 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists.

The loss is another disappointing chapter in an unusual rivalry. The Knicks now hold a 116-107 advantage in regular-season meetings, along with a 5-5 record in postseason matchups. However, before New York's current 15-game regular-season winning streak, Brooklyn had won 10 consecutive games against its crosstown rival. The Nets have also won their last four postseason meetings, including a sweep of the Knicks in 2004.

Brooklyn will have an opportunity to get back on track Wednesday night when it returns to Barclays Center to host the Charlotte Hornets at 7:30 p.m. The Nets will be looking to avenge their opening-night loss to Charlotte and avoid letting this latest defeat turn into another losing streak.