NBA
New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Tuesday 21st January 2025 Start time: 7:30 pm local time (00:30 am BST) Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York Last meeting: November 17, 2024, New York Knicks 114-104 Brooklyn Nets Heated intra-state rivals, the New York Knicks, and the Brooklyn Nets, face off at the Barclays Center.
Karl-Anthony Towns//Getty Images
Heated intra-state rivals, the New York Knicks, and the Brooklyn Nets, face off at the Barclays Center. This matchup should bring mass excitement to the Big Apple as both teams face off. The Knicks are currently in the top three positions in the East whereas the Nets are way down below as the 12th seed, therefore a win for the latter would be crucial to try and fight for a play-in spot later in the season.
SportsBoom has provided a detailed preview of this incredible rivalry, where the article provides an analysis of both teams, their recent form, and recalls of past games. SportsBoom deep dive into key players on both rosters, and we will share our valued betting picks before sharing our final prediction for the match.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
New York Knicks: 11/8 (2.375) - 42%
Brooklyn Nets: 4/6 (1.67) - 60%
Forecast Odds – Betting available on Stake closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
This Eastern Conference matchup is one of the most prestigious matchups due to the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks playing against each other for nearly 50 years. Both teams have tussled 216 times before in the regular season, and quite incredibly this game is very close overall. The New York Knicks have won 109 while the Brooklyn Nets fall slightly behind with 107.
The Knicks are the most dominant team in the recent head-to-head though, as they have currently won eight in a row and look in incredible form. Before this inspired run by the Knicks, the Nets won nine in a row, highlighting how one-sided this fixture can be across a few years.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | November 17, 2024 | New York Knicks 114-104 Brooklyn Nets |
| 2024/25 Season | November 15, 2024 | New York Knicks 124-122 Brooklyn Nets |
| 2023/24 Season | April 12, 2024 | New York Knicks 111-107 Brooklyn Nets |
| 2023/24 Season | March 23, 2024 | New York Knicks 105-93 Brooklyn Nets |
| 2023/24 Season | January 23, 2024 | New York Knicks 108-103 Brooklyn Nets |
How is the season so far for both teams?
New York Knicks
- Record: 27-16
- Home Form: 13-8
- Road Form: 14-8
The team on the road, the New York Knicks, are currently the only team inside the top five in the East to have a sub .500 record from their last ten games. They’ve stayed in the top three seeding positions for multiple weeks but look under threat due to this recent downturn in results going against them.
The Knicks are fortunate that their main starting five have avoided injuries across the season. Their best operators in points per game are evident, thanks to the work of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Both players are averaging 26.0 and 25.4 points per game, respectively, placing both inside the top 12 efficient scorers in the entire league. Incredibly, both players are finding ways to improve on their averages as the season progresses, showcasing their ability.
Towns, their center, is compiling impressive figures on both sides of the court, averaging 13.9 rebounds per game, placing him second overall in the league. 10.9 rebounds on average derive from defensive situations, which has seen him play a massive role in the team recovering the ball at crucial times in matches.
Brooklyn Nets
- Record: 14-28
- Home Form: 5-12
- Road Form: 9-16
The Brooklyn Nets head into this game looking worse for wear having won only two of their last ten fixtures, which has seen them fall to 12th after their divisional rivals the Philadelphia 76ers overtook them. The Nets need to find form and fast if they are to try and catch up to a play-off spot considering nine teams’ records are at .500 or above.
Their most efficient scorer, 23-year-old Cam Thomas, is averaging 24.7 points for the season but it is unclear when he will return to the court. He picked up a hamstring injury and has been struggling with it since, but he is an important player for the roster when he eventually marks his return.
Out of the current roster who are fit and available, shooting forward Cameron Johnson is doing most of the work from an offensive perspective. He is averaging 19.6 points across 33 games this season, by far his best season in his Nets stint but indeed his whole career, therefore he could spoil the party for when they play their local rivals.
Value Bets
Cameron Johnson: Over 15 Points
SportsBoom’s first valued bet goes to Nets star Cameron Johnson. He has participated in 12 total games against New York in his whole career and is averaging 17.5 points. While this isn’t the best number, he can consistently show his capabilities and produce steady performances. He has delivered high-scoring games of 33 and 38 points in 2023 and 2022 for the Nets and his old team the Phoenix Suns, respectively.
Karl Anthony Towns: Over 25 Points and Over 10 Rebounds
Karl Anthony Towns always seems to find an extra gear against the Nets, but he has more reason too now he plays for their main rivals after signing for the Knicks in the summer. He is posting 25.4 points and 11.7 rebounds across 15 previous games; therefore, we expect this to be replicated once again. Towns’ last performances saw 26 points and 15 rebounds, an important display in both offense and defense to secure the win.
Prediction: New York Knicks to win
SportsBoom selects the New York Knicks to prevail in this encounter. Despite how heated this rivalry is, the Knicks have won eight in a row and look in fine hot form to make it nine. The Knicks will stop at nothing to keep this streak going. The Nets are looking for that extra bit of quality but are evidently struggling due to players leaving or nursing injuries. For bettors exploring online sports betting options, the Knicks’ momentum and consistency make them a reliable pick.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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