Knicks Look to Regain Rhythm in Regular Season Finale vs. Nets
With the playoffs around the corner, the New York Knicks close out their regular season Sunday afternoon with a visit to the struggling Brooklyn Nets. While the Knicks have already secured the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, head coach Tom Thibodeau is emphasizing urgency, not complacency.
Knicks Focused on Fixing Flaws Before Postseason Begins
Despite locking in a strong playoff position at 50-31, New York enters the finale on a three-game losing streak, including a frustrating collapse against Cleveland where they blew a 23-point lead.
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Thibodeau didn’t hold back in his assessment of the recent slump.
“We got to be honest with ourselves, look at what we did wrong. We got to get it fixed, and we got to get it fixed fast.”
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The Knicks are on their first three-year playoff streak since 2011-13 and are eager to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. But to do that, they’ll need to get past the surging Detroit Pistons in the first round—a team that beat them three out of four times during the regular season and finished with 30+ more wins than a year ago.
Brunson Returns, Towns Sidelined, Momentum Stalls
New York’s lineup has been in flux recently. Jalen Brunson made a strong return from an ankle injury, delivering 27 points in back-to-back games against Boston and Cleveland. Unfortunately, both were losses, and the Knicks also dropped a game to Detroit in between.
Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns missed Friday’s game due to a knee injury, casting doubt on his availability for the postseason opener. With the team seeking cohesion and consistency, Thibodeau is pushing for a complete effort in Brooklyn to stop the skid.
“We’re heading down the stretch. We’ve got to have rhythm going into the playoffs, so this has to be changed quickly.”
Nets Playing for Pride, Showcasing New Talent
While the Knicks prepare for a deep playoff push, the Nets (26-55) are closing out a disappointing season marked by injuries and inconsistency. After the All-Star break, Brooklyn suffered losing streaks of seven and six games, and they’ve dropped four of their last five coming into Sunday.
However, the season’s final stretch has been a showcase for young talent and hungry players looking to make a mark.
Drew Timme, who joined from the G League on March 28, has been a bright spot with three double-doubles, including an 11-point, 10-rebound showing Friday in a 117-91 loss to Minnesota.
“Everybody that’s out there in the fourth quarter, we’re all out there trying to prove we belong,” Timme told the New York Post.
The Nets’ injury list includes key names like Cameron Johnson, Nic Claxton, and D’Angelo Russell, opening doors for prospects like Reece Beekman and Tosan Evbuomwan. Beekman has posted double-digit scoring and a 10-assist performance, while Evbuomwan notched four straight games in double figures recently.
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Knicks Eye Playoff Readiness, Nets Aim for Future Roles
This season-ending matchup is more than just a formality. For the Knicks, it’s a final test to restore rhythm and rebuild confidence. For the Nets, it’s another shot for their young core to prove they deserve a spot in the franchise’s long-term plans.