Knicks-Nets was billed as battle of the boroughs... but there's only one team worth talking about in New York
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In four days' time, the Brooklyn Nets will raise a Vince Carter banner into the rafters of Barclays Center. A reminder of the halcyon days when this team won basketball games. This season that hasn't happened much, and Tuesday night's tight 99-95 loss to the rival Knicks was an agonizing demonstration of two New York teams heading in very different directions.
![[It was an impressive night for the Knicks as they proved themselves to be kings of New York]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/00/94372489-14311129-image-a-5_1737506971943.jpg)
Although this one was close - arguably much more so than it should have been - in the end the Knicks' stepped up another rung on their ladder towards the playoffs. The Nets, meanwhile, have landed on a snake and are sliding towards the bottom, shedding talent in a bid for more draft capital in their battle for the No 1 pick.
![[The legendary Vince Carter will have his No 15 jersey retired by the Nets this coming weekend]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/00/94372517-14311129-image-a-6_1737506980409.jpg)
This latest losing night in Brooklyn also served as a reminder of what used to be for the Nets, with Mikal Bridges returning for the first time since his summer trade across the river. He is the Nets' past, and a vital part of the Knicks' present and bright near-future.
![[Sydney Sweeney was among the celebrity spectators courtside at Barclays Center]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/02/94374159-14311129-image-a-4_1737512006029.jpg)
His first bucket of the night was cheered like it used to be inside this arena, but this time by half-empty stands mainly occupied by fans wearing the orange and blue of the so-called 'road' team. The Nets were perilous to stop Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
![[The Knicks are in their championship window and praying for glory come the end of the season]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/02/94374189-14311129-image-a-2_1737511978066.jpg)
It was an impressive night for the Knicks as they proved themselves to be kings of New York. In his pregame press conference, Nets coach Jordi Fernandez referred to Bridges as 'the enemy', but in truth it was home fans that were few and far between, and in the third quarter chants of 'Brooklyn sucks' broke out in the crowd.
![[Nic Claxton dunks against the Knicks in front of a crowd filled with orange and blue]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/02/94374163-14311129-image-a-3_1737512002859.jpg)
