NETS GAMENIGHT: #Nets @ #Knicks

BROOKLYN NETS (40-33) @ NEW YORK KNICKS (32-43)

Madison Square Garden 7:00

TV: MY9 RADIO: CBS 880

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NETS STARTERS
The starting lineup will be  Deron Williams playing alongside  Shaun Livingston in the backcourt with  Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce up front and the man in the middle Mason Plumlee.

The Nets clinched a playoff spot with a 105-96 victory over Houston on Tuesday night following the lead of Joe Johnson’s 32 points.

Brooklyn  is 5-11 this season in the second game of a back-to-back so tonight’s game is important for that reason and also to put one more game between themselves and the Knicks.  Putting the Knicks one more game closer to playoff elimination is also an added bonus to the game tonight.

Marcus Thornton will play tonight.

Kevin Garnett will miss a 18th straight game due to back spasms and may return next week.

KNICKS STARTERS

The Knicks starting lineup will be Raymond Felton and JR Smith in the backcourt with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and  Tyson Chandler playing in the frontcourt.

New York is coming off a win in Utah where they used a 17-2 run to put the hapless Jazz away 92-83.

The Knicks have won  11 of 14 and trail Atlanta by one game for the East’s final playoff spot as the Hawks are reeling right now.

New York just gave up 51 points in a single quarter against the Lakers last week.

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GAME NOTES:

A win would be the first time the Nets have won three straight games at New York since 2/24/06-4/16/07.

Brooklyn has posted a 30-12 record since the start of Jan.

Jason Kidd was named the Eastern Conference NBA Coach of the month for March. Kidd led the Nets to a franchise-record-tying 12 wins in the month.

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[quote_simple]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Add to their misery

The Nets are on a roll going 7-3 in their last 10 games and winning a franchise best 14 straight games at home in the process.

The attitude and demeanor of the team has changed from a pushover with no heart in the first two months to a mentally strong and resilient bunch the next three months.

The Nets can really make a point tonight with a win against their cross town rivals in their building and also push the Knicks closer to missing the playoffs which is where they belong – on the outside looking in.
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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Andrei Kirilenko – OUT (sprained left ankle)

Kevin Garnett – OUT (back spasms)

Brook Lopez  – OUT (ankle)

KNICKS

Tim Hardaway Jr. – GTD (right ankle)

Andrea Bargnani – OUT (left elbow)

Kenyon Martin – OUT (left ankle)

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Coach Kidd – “No one cares who scores, it’s all about Brooklyn.”

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