by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Where to watch: TNT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Nets -6
BetMGM: Nets -6.5
Caesars: Nets -6
Season record
Knicks: 11-9
Nets: 14-6
Larry Ness had a productive 5-1-0 run in the NBA this week, and with the calendar turning to December soon it’ll be time to close 2021 strong. Catch Larry’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Knicks - Nets preview and analysis
Recent form
Knicks: won 99-90 at Hawks on Saturday
Nets: lost 113-107 vs. Suns on Saturday
The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks will meet for New York supremacy (?) when they meet at Barclays Center on Tuesday.
At least that’s what we should likely call this matchup because it might be the best way to get this excited for it.
The Nets had their four-game winning streak end on Saturday in a six-point loss to the Phoenix Suns at home. Despite Kevin Durant’s game-high 39 points on 13 of 28 shooting and the Nets shooting 50 percent from the floor, the Nets made just seven 3-pointers and the Suns kept it close until the end before pulling away.
"For us, handing the ball off in the first half the way we did, you're not going to beat a good team like that," Durant said.
Brooklyn has not fared well on the books as of late, failing to cover in three of its last four with two of those results coming by a margin of 7.5. The Nets’ lone win was as 1.5-point underdogs last Wednesday against the Boston Celtics when they won by 19.
Overall, the Nets are 9-11 ATS.
As are the Knicks, who have failed to cover in four of their last six games. The Knicks were 8-point dogs against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday in a matchup they ended up winning by eight.
Alec Burks, who became the starting point guard over Kemba Walker and put the New York native out of the rotation completely, led the way with 23 points on 7 of 17 shooting. Evan Fournier chipped in with 20 points as the Knicks got a big-time win against the team that eliminated them in the first round of the NBA Playoffs last season.
"It's a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what you think is best for the team," coach Tom Thibodeau said Monday. "I view Kemba as a starter, and so it'd be tough to play three small guards together. I gave it consideration, and I've got great respect for who Kemba is as a person and all he's accomplished in this league.”
Burks has never really been a primary point guard, but more of a bigger body that has shown the ability to make shots over the past couple of years. I’d envision Derrick Rose to come back and make a run for the starter’s job when he’s fully healthy, as someone who could really run Thibodeau’s offense.
Prediction
While the Knicks picked up a solid win the other day, there’s still that talent gap between the two teams. The Nets are 12-3 in their last 15 and have continued to play well. How they maintain that without Joe Harris going forward remains to be seen, but I like the Nets in this one. Nets by 10
Betting trends
The Knicks are 2-8 ATS after allowing 105 points or less the previous game.
The under is 6-0 in the Knicks’ last six road games.
The Nets are 6-1 ATS in their last seven after failing to cover the previous loss.
The Nets are 20-6 ATS on Tuesday games in the last three seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Knicks:
PG: Alec Burks
SG: Evan Fournier
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson
Nets:
PG: James Harden
SG: Patty Mills
SF: Bruce Brown
PF: Kevin Durant
C: LaMarcus Aldridge
SF: Bruce Brown
PF: Kevin Durant
C: LaMarcus Aldridge
Key injuries
Knicks: RJ Barrett (illness, questionable), Taj Gibson (groin, questionable), Nerlens Noel (knee, questionable), Derrick Rose (ankle, questionable)
Nets: Joe Harris (ankle, out), Nic Claxton (COVID, out), Kyrie Irving (personal, out)
Statistical leaders
Knicks:
Points: Julius Randle -- 19.2
Rebounds: Julius Randle -- 10.2
Assists: Julius Randle -- 5.0
Nets:
Points: Kevin Durant -- 28.6
Rebounds: James Harden -- 7.9
Assists: James Harden -- 9.4
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
