Knicks Do Just Enough to Scratch Out Win. NY 93 Brooklyn 92

March 21, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
OG Anunoby had 16 pts on 7-13 shooting -- taking it to the rim all night -- with 2 steals and a block for a +14. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks started with another stinkeroo 1st quarter, falling behind the Nets by double digits early — then took command in the 3rd quarter to build a 14-pt lead with 8 minutes left in the game — only to fall asleep again as the Nets ran off 17 pts in a row to take a 3-pt lead with 3 minutes left.

The Knicks took charge again with an 8-0 run to take a 5-pt lead with a minute left and seemingly win it — only to fall asleep again, with Jalen Brunson (1-2) and Karl-Anthony Towns (0-2) missing 3 free throws in the final 10 seconds, giving the Nets a chance to win with 2.9 seconds left and the ball, down 93-92.

It took a great defensive play by Mitchell Robinson — knocking away an inbounds pass and sending it out out bounds, and taking 1.7 seconds off the clock — to put the final nail in — and the Nets inexplicably inbounding the ball to the backcourt where Ben Saraf was forced to hurl up a 55 footer that was way short for the old ballgame.

Final score Knicks 93 Nets 92 on a Friday night in Brooklyn.

It was a physical game from the start, with several shoving altercations and technical fouls. Brooklyn’s Josh Minott talked smack about Karl-Anthony Towns coming in — saying his former teammate didn’t like contact. KAT responded with 26 pts and 15 rebounds to lead NY.

“I thought we were real lackadaisical with the basketball,” said coach Mike Brown, adding later “Our rotations weren’t good. There were a couple of times that we stopped playing, I think, trying to get to them.”

NY improves to 46-25 but remain 1.5 behind Boston and 5.5 behind Detroit. Brooklyn falls to 17-53.

1. Knicks With Another Stinkeroo 1st Quarter

The Nets came out with a chip on their shoulder, with reserve Josh Minott talking smack about former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns before the game, saying KAT doesn’t like to play against contact.

The Knicks proceeded to have a stinkeroo 1st quarter — as they have had numerous times in the last month. The Knicks shot 4-19 with 9 turnovers in the first 12 minutes.

Brooklyn jumped out to a 9-3 lead on buckets by Nolan Traore, Nic Claxton, Drake Powell, and a 3 by Danny Wolfe. The Knicks closed to 11-10, with Mikal Bridges scoring 7 straight Knick points with a deuce, free throws, and a 3 .

But a couple of 3’s and a deuce by Josh Minott — and lots of missed Knick shots and turnovers — allowed Brooklyn to take a 22-14 after 1 quarter.

2. Knicks Push Back — Game Gets Chippy

KAT took command at start of the 2nd quarter, driving to the bucket against contact over and over — scoring or drawing fouls.

Mitchell Robinson was also scoring inside.

The game got chippy — which erupted into some pushing and shoving on the court.

With 6 minutes left in the 2nd, KAT got a technical foul.

With 3 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Nolan Traore came down HARD on Mitchell Robinson for a foul inside, and Ziaire Williams got into it — both receiving technicals.

3. Knicks Pull within 50-44 at Half

Zaire Williams was getting buckets inside for the Nets as they pushed their lead to 13 at 45-32 with 4 minutes left in the 2nd.

But KAT continued to get buckets inside, while Jalen Brunson scored inside and out. A Jalen Brunson 3 pulled NY within 47-39. KAT free throws off a drive, and a bucket inside the next time down pulled NY within 7. An OG drive and ensuing free throw made it a 6-pt game at the half — 50-44 Brooklyn.

4. Knicks Command 3rd Quarter, 31-15 — Take 75-65 Lead

And then NY took command of the game to start the 3rd quarter — OG dunking inside off a KAT assist to start the period, Brunson hitting a pullup, and KAT hitting a 3 and just like that the Knicks were up 51-50.

Then with 9 minutes left in the 3rd, OG Anunoby and Nic Claxton got into a shoving match — and both got technicals.

The game went back and forth for the next 5 minutes — Claxton and Zaire Williams getting buckets for Brooklyn, while KAT continued to dominate inside, joined by Mikal Bridges and Mohammed Diawara from the outside.

Clarkson Comes in Spark Knicks to 11-0 Run

Brooklyn had a 65-64 lead with 3:28 left when Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to trigger a NY run.

Clarkson hit a 3 late in the shot clock to give NY a 67-65 led, then next time down fed OG for a dunk inside late in the shot clock for a 69-65 Knick lead.

A Brunson fadeaway on next possession, OG dunk off a Brunson pass, and Brunson drive gave NY 11 straight pts and a 75-65 lead after 3.

5. Knicks Build 14-Pt Lead in 4th — But Nets Go on 17-0 Run

The Knicks pushed their lead to 14 pts early in the 4th on buckets by OG Anunoby (a deuce and a 3) and KAT.

But the Knicks would then go 6 straight minutes without making a shot — as Brookyn reeled off 17 pts in a row — Josh Minott with consecutive 3’s, Malachi Smith with a 3, Claney Johnson with a bucket, Ben Saraf scoring inside, Ochai Agbaji with a dunk, and Nolan Traore with free throws for an  87-84 Nets lead with 3:33 left.

6. Brunson & KAT Take Charge Down Stretch

Finally, KAT got fouled on a drive and hit 2 free throws to break the schneid.

The Knicks firmed up their D — KAT especially playing great defense down the stretch — and Brunson took charge offensive — coming down and hitting consecutive drives — a banker and a floater — for a 90-87 Knick lead with 1:34 left.

KAT scored on a drive off a Brunson assist and NY was up 5 with a minute left — and seemingly ballgame.

7. Brunson & KAT Miss Free Throws in Final 10 Seconds

But Nolan Traore broke free for an easy layup inside with 16 seconds left, and Brunson — purposely fouled, hit the first but missed the 2nd of 2 free throws with 10 seconds left — making it a 4-pt game at 93-89 NY.

Traore came down and hit a 3 for a 93-92 game with 5 seconds left, and KAT, purposely fouled with 4.9 seconds left — missed both free throws.

Brooklyn inbounded with 2.9 seconds left — but Mitchell Robinson swatted away the inbounds pass — out of bounds. Brooklyn inbounded again with 1.2 seconds left — and oddly passed it into the backcourt where Ben Saraf was forced to hoist up a 55 footer which fell way short for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810871

 

 

 

 

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