New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets Pick & Prediction APRIL 13th 2025
Preview and Prediction
The New York Knicks will wrap up their regular season on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, having already secured the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is not satisfied and is pushing for a stronger performance from his team before heading into the playoffs.
New York (50-31) is coming off a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where they blew a 23-point lead.
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"We need to be honest with ourselves and address our mistakes," Thibodeau stated after the game. "We need to fix them quickly."
This will be the Knicks' third consecutive trip to the postseason, their longest streak since 2011-13. They are determined to make it to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000 and potentially reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
New York will face the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round, a team that has improved significantly from last season.
The Pistons have won all three of their regular-season matchups against the Knicks this year. Similarly, the Knicks are on a three-game losing streak heading into Sunday's game against the Nets (26-55).
"We are getting close to the playoffs and we need to find our rhythm," Thibodeau emphasized. "We need to make changes quickly."
The Knicks have dealt with some roster changes, including the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns due to a knee injury. Jalen Brunson recently returned from an ankle injury and has been a key player for the Knicks, scoring 27 points in his last two games.
However, despite his contributions, the Knicks have suffered losses in both games, including a defeat to the Pistons on Thursday.
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After facing three playoff-bound teams in a row, the Knicks will shift their focus to the Nets, who are wrapping up their second consecutive losing season after five straight playoff appearances.
The Nets have been plagued by injuries since the All-Star break, leading to losing streaks of seven and six games. They have lost four of their last five games, most recently a 117-91 blowout against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the loss, all five Nets starters scored in double figures, including Drew Timme with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Timme, a former Gonzaga star, has been a valuable addition to the Nets roster since joining from the G League on March 28.
"Everyone on the court in the fourth quarter is trying to prove themselves," Timme told the New York Post.
With several players out due to injuries, other Nets players have had the opportunity to showcase their skills in the final stretch of the season. Reece Beekman, a recent addition to the roster, has had two strong scoring performances and a 10-assist game in the Nets' last win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Princeton alum Tosan Evbuomwan is another player taking advantage of increased playing time, scoring in double figures in four consecutive games before contributing seven points off the bench in Friday's loss.
New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets Recap APR 13TH 2025
Landry Shamet came off the bench to score 29 points, and the short-handed New York Knicks rode a 17-0 third-quarter run to hold off the host Brooklyn Nets 113-105 in the regular-season finale for both teams Sunday.
New York (51-31), already locked into the Eastern Conference's No. 3 seed for the playoffs, played without stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, the latter of whom recently returned from injury. Mikal Bridges extended his consecutive games streak to 556, but only after appearing for the first six seconds vs. the Nets (26-56).
The remaining Knicks rallied without the core of its starting lineup, but not without trailing for much of the first half.
Brooklyn led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter before New York came roaring back.
Trailing 79-70 in the third quarter, the Knicks began a deluge that flipped the game entirely, starting with Cameron Payne's free throw and Miles McBride's quick bucket after a Nic Claxton technical foul.
McBride and Payne combined to score the first 10 points in New York's 17-0 run, which proved to be decisive. The Knicks led the rest of the way, though Brooklyn remained in striking distance with all five of its starters scoring in double figures.
Tyrese Martin and Trendon Watford each scored 20 points to lead the Nets, and both grabbed seven rebounds. Jalen Wilson scored 18 points, Keon Johnson added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Claxton scored 12 and Drew Timme came off the bench to score 11.
New York countered with effective 3-point shooting from Shamet, who knocked down 7 of 13 shots from beyond the arc, and Payne's 3-of-7 effort from deep. Payne finished with 21 points.
McBride scored 17 points and dished eight assists, while Precious Achiuwa finished with 18 points. Every Knick who played save Bridges and Anton Watson scored at least four points.
The loss capped Brooklyn's worst season since going 20-62 in 2016-17. New York, meanwhile, prepares to host Detroit in the first round of the playoffs.