Knicks Seek To Extend Streak As Nets Visit Madison Square Garden

NBA Rivals Week brings an electric crosstown clash to Madison Square Garden as the Brooklyn Nets, mired in a tough stretch, face off against the New York Knicks on January 21, 2026. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and fans are eager to see if the struggling squads can shake off their recent woes in one of basketball’s most storied arenas.

Both teams enter this matchup looking to reverse their fortunes. The Nets, sitting at 12-29, have dropped seven of their last eight contests, including a 126-117 defeat to the Phoenix Suns just two days prior. Road games haven’t been kind to Brooklyn either—they’ve lost five straight away from home, and their overall road record stands at a disappointing 6-13. The Knicks, meanwhile, are 25-18 but have stumbled with four consecutive losses, the most recent a 114-97 setback against the Dallas Mavericks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Despite their recent struggles, the Knicks have found comfort at Madison Square Garden, boasting a 16-6 home record this season.

History is firmly on New York’s side in this rivalry. The Knicks lead the all-time series 118-112 and have dominated recent meetings, winning each of the last 12 clashes. Their last two matchups this season saw the Knicks claim a 134-98 blowout at home on November 9 and a 113-100 victory on the road on November 24. Will the Nets finally break the streak, or will the Knicks assert their dominance yet again?

Oddsmakers see the Knicks as heavy favorites. According to multiple sportsbooks, the Knicks are listed at -11.5 on the spread, with moneyline odds ranging from -550 to -625. The Nets are significant underdogs, with moneyline odds between +400 and +451. The over/under for total points is set between 220.5 and 222.5, reflecting the expectation of a moderately high-scoring affair.

Injuries could play a role in this contest, though the Knicks are entering the game with a clean bill of health. The Nets, on the other hand, will be without forward Haywood Highsmith, who is sidelined with a knee injury, and center Day'Ron Sharpe is listed as questionable due to illness. The return of Cam Thomas, Brooklyn’s second-leading scorer, is expected after he missed the previous game, giving the Nets a much-needed offensive boost.

Statistically, the matchup presents some intriguing contrasts. The Knicks average 117.9 points per game, just 3.6 points more than the 114.3 points the Nets surrender on average. Conversely, the Nets struggle to put points on the board, posting only 109 per contest—5.9 fewer than the Knicks typically allow (114.9). Brooklyn’s offensive woes are well documented; they’re the lowest-scoring team in the NBA this season, and have managed just 105 or fewer points in five of their last eight outings. On the flip side, the Knicks’ offense has cooled recently, scoring 101 or fewer in three of their last four games and failing to hit the 100-point mark in three of their last five at home.

Despite these offensive struggles, both teams have opportunities to exploit each other’s weaknesses. Neither squad excels at defending the three-point line, ranking among the NBA’s bottom four in opponent three-point percentage. That could open the door for shooters on both sides to get hot—will it be the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson or the Nets’ Cam Thomas who catches fire?

SportsLine’s advanced projection model, which simulated the matchup 10,000 times, predicts a higher-scoring game than some might expect. The model calls for a combined 228 points, with the over hitting in 54% of simulations. It also projects six Knicks players to reach double-digit scoring, with two surpassing the 20-point threshold. For the Nets, five players are forecasted to score in double figures, led by the returning Cam Thomas. Still, the model’s against-the-spread pick favors the Nets to cover the hefty 11.5-point line, suggesting that while the Knicks are likely to win, the game could be closer than the odds suggest.

Expert analysts echo this sentiment. The consensus prediction pegs the final score at Knicks 115, Nets 107, and recommends betting on the Nets to cover the spread and the game total to remain under 222.5 points. The rationale? The Knicks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games, including twice as double-digit favorites, and are just 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 contests. The Nets, meanwhile, are 5-5 against the spread over that span and have covered in two of their last three. Even as underdogs, they’ve shown a knack for keeping games within reach.

Looking at individual performances, recent games have seen Michael Porter Jr. lead the Nets with 23 points against Phoenix, while Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns each put up 22 for the Knicks in their loss to Dallas. Mitchell Robinson was the only other Knick in double figures that night, scoring 12. With Cam Thomas back in the lineup, Brooklyn will hope to find more offensive balance and perhaps surprise the Garden faithful.

For fans tuning in, the game is broadcast on YES and MSG networks and available for streaming via Fubo. Tickets remain available for those wanting to witness the rivalry firsthand at Madison Square Garden.

With both teams hungry for a win and the rivalry stakes as high as ever, Wednesday night’s showdown promises drama, intensity, and no shortage of storylines. Will the Knicks extend their dominance, or can the Nets end their skid and finally snap the 12-game losing streak in this crosstown battle?

No matter the outcome, the stage is set for another memorable chapter in the New York basketball rivalry. As tipoff approaches, anticipation builds—Madison Square Garden is ready, and so are the fans.