So much for the sweep.
After a thrilling 116-113 Game 1 victory for the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks fired right back in Game 2 with a three-point victory of their own, a recklessly-paced 124-121 shootout at Virtual Madison Square Garden. The Knicks victory evens up the Cross Bridge Battle at one game apiece.
The Knicks were led by J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, each with 26 points, and Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 21.
With the game tied at 119 with 24 seconds left, Andray Blatche, who was somehow Shumpert’s assignment, left Shumpert wide open on the perimeter for an open three. Shumpert buried it, putting the Knicks up for good. Joe Johnson missed a midrange jumper on the next play. that would have cut the lead to one.
The Nets had one more shot to tie the game after an inbounds steal by Deron Williams with six seconds left, but… well, the video above says it all.
The Nets were paced again by Johnson, who finished with 26 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, shooting 10-16 from the field. Williams finished one rebound shy of a triple-double (20 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists), but shot only 6-21 from the field. Gerald Wallace added a surprisingly efficient 24 points, and Blatche — defensive mistake aside — had his second straight effective game as a starter, with 19 points & 13 rebounds (six offensive).
The Nets had big nights from all of their starters except one glaring hole: Brook Lopez was noticeably absent from Brooklyn’s offense, scoring just six points on 3-10 shooting in 29 minutes.
Coach Kharpertian could not be reached for comment, as he was perched atop an artisan robotic pterodactyl circling Manhattan, screaming “BROOKLYN WILL RISE AGAIN.”
Box score information below.
