At 7:30 ET, the Brooklyn Nets (14-29) will host the New York Knicks (28-16) at the Barclays Center. The Knicks are currently favored by 10.5 points and have a moneyline of -542. The over/under line for the game is set at 219.5.

This game will be televised on TNT and is a division matchup between the 2nd place Knicks and 4th place Nets. Brooklyn has lost three straight games and is 12th in the Eastern Conference, while New York is 3rd in the East.

Knicks vs. Nets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets
• Where: Brooklyn at Barclays Center
• Date: Tuesday, January 21st
• Betting Odds NY -10.5, NY -542 | BKN +407 O/U 219.5

The Knicks Can Win If…

The Knicks improved to 28-16 on the season with a 119-110 win over the Hawks on Monday. New York, who were -7.5 point favorites, covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game came in at 229, which was 10.5 points under the O/U line of 239.5.

After trailing 62-54 at halftime, the Knicks turned things around in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Atlanta 40-27. They entered the 4th quarter with a 94-89 lead and held the Hawks to 21 points in the final period while scoring 25 to secure the win.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a win over the Hawks, scoring 34 points on 66.7% shooting, including 3 made threes at a 60% clip. Mikal Bridges added 26 points, shooting 70.6% from the field. As a team, the Knicks shot 52.2%, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 9 threes at 34.6%.

Brunson scored 12 points in the 3rd quarter, while Bridges added 14. Josh Hart also contributed 10 of his 14 points in the 3rd. Brunson had 11 points in the 2nd quarter as well.

Despite a rough 2nd quarter where the Knicks gave up 35 points, they tightened up defensively in the 4th, allowing just 21 points to help secure the win over the Hawks. Overall, New York allowed 110 points on 47% shooting from the field.

The Knicks struggled to defend the three, with Atlanta hitting 13 threes at a 43% clip. New York sent the Hawks to the line 22 times, where they made 17 free throws. Defensively, the Knicks recorded 8 steals and 1 block.

• In their last ten games away from home, the Knicks have a straight up record of 8-2 while going 6-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 117 points per game in this stretch.
• In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Knicks have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
• Over their last five games, the Knicks have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Nets Can Win If…

The Nets fell to 14-29 on the season after a 127-101 loss to the Thunder on Sunday. Brooklyn entered the game as +16.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The total score of 228 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 217.5.

The Thunder opened the game with a 10-0 run, and the Nets never recovered. Brooklyn was outscored 39-19 in the 1st quarter, and while they played the Thunder more evenly in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, they couldn’t close the gap, entering the 4th quarter down 98-77.

In their 127-101 loss to the Thunder, the Nets struggled offensively, shooting just 42.5% from the field. Their three-point shooting was particularly poor, hitting only 27.9% with 12 made threes.

Cameron Johnson and Tyrese Martin led the Nets with 15 points each, with Johnson adding 8 points in the 2nd quarter and 7 in the 3rd. Martin contributed 6 points in the 3rd and another 7 in the 4th.

The Nets struggled defensively against the Thunder, giving up 127 points on 55% shooting. Brooklyn allowed 39 points in the 1st quarter and at least 29 points in each subsequent quarter.

From beyond the arc, the Thunder hit 19 threes at a 44% clip. The Nets sent Oklahoma City to the line 13 times, where they converted 12 free throws. Brooklyn recorded 5 steals and 3 blocks in the game.

• In their last five home games, Brooklyn has averaged 102 points per game while allowing 116. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 3-2.
• As the betting underdog, the Nets have an ATS mark of just 1-2 in their last three games. Brooklyn posted a straight up mark of 0-3 in these matchups.
• In their last three games, the Nets have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Not only do we have the Knicks winning this one by a score of 126-90, but we see them covering the spread. Our pick is to grab the Knicks at -10.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 219.5 and our model has the Knicks and Nets finishing with a combined 216 points. Our pick is to take the under.

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Knicks’ Mikal Bridges Returns to Brooklyn to Face Former Team

Mikal Bridges and the New York Knicks head to Brooklyn on Tuesday night to take on the Nets, marking Bridges’ first game back at Barclays Center since being traded.

Knicks: Aiming High

Mikal Bridges has become a cornerstone for the Knicks (24-19) since arriving in a blockbuster trade in July, where New York sent five first-round picks to acquire him. Bridges, who averaged 21.2 points in 109 games for the Nets, has already faced his former team twice this season, scoring 22 and 21 points in two Knicks wins.

The Knicks are riding an eight-game winning streak against the Nets, but recent form has been mixed. They’ve dropped six of their past 10 games since their nine-game winning streak ended on Jan. 1. On Monday, they snapped a two-game skid with a 119-110 home victory over the Atlanta Hawks, powered by Jalen Brunson’s 34 points and Bridges’ 26.

Nets: Struggling to Rebuild

Brooklyn (13-30) has endured a rough season as it navigates a rebuilding phase. The Nets, who traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving two years ago, are 5-19 since late November and 1-8 in their last nine games. Cam Thomas, who scored 43 points in the first meeting with the Knicks, will miss his 10th straight game due to a strained hamstring.

The Nets are returning home after a grueling six-game road trip where they went 1-5. They’ll play 10 of their next 12 at Barclays Center, where they’re looking to snap a seven-game home losing streak. Brooklyn forward Cameron Johnson remains optimistic: “We’re excited to play in front of our fans and get comfortable at home.”

What to Watch

• Bridges vs. Former Team: Can Mikal Bridges lead the Knicks to another win over Brooklyn?
• Brooklyn’s Response: Will the Nets find a spark at home and stop their losing streak?
• Key Players: Jalen Brunson and Bridges have been dominant for New York, while the Nets need contributions from players like Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton.

Prediction

The Knicks’ recent dominance over the Nets and Bridges’ steady scoring make New York the favorites in this matchup. Brooklyn’s struggles, especially without Cam Thomas, leave them at a disadvantage. Expect the Knicks to extend their winning streak against the Nets to nine games.