Every morning, we will give you five things from the night before in the NBA to start your day.
1: Brooklyn's town
The long-awaited Knicks-Nets game lived up to its billing in the way only a game in New York could. The two teams from the City that Never Sleeps went back and forth and needed five extra minutes to figure this one out.
The Nets fans chanted "Brooklyn" to drown out the Knicks fans trying to make their presence known. In the end though, the home team won and the Nets claimed their borough and perhaps a stake in the New York basketball market.
Brook Lopez had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Nets statistically. But it was the work on the offensive glass from Reggie Evans and the defensive work of Gerald Wallace that proved to be the difference. It was Wallace who contested Carmelo Anthony's game-winning shot in regulation.
In overtime it was Deron Williams taking over and finding his offensive game as the Nets clamped down on the Knicks to secure the win.
Brooklyn turned it into a grind-it-out game surviving a combined 9-for-29 shooting performance from Williams and Joe Johnson. Winning with those two struggling from the floor against a team like New York shows Brooklyn is looking to claim more than just New York.
Tonight was the Nets' night though. Nothing could go wrong at the Barclays Center.
2: 27-0 Bucks
These are not your older brother's Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls are built on their defense. That is what they hang their hat on. But the offense is still something of a work in progress. Even with Derrick Rose the offense bogs down. But Rose at least has the threat of creating something.
Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls likely did not think the offense could be this bad.
Milwaukee erased a 27-point deficit for a 93-92 victory at Chicago on Monday, ending a nine-game losing streak to Chicago. The Bucks got five players in double figures including 18 points from a suddenly hot Ersan Ilyasova.
Chicago though has to feel really disappointed. A 27-point lead is supposed to be unreachable. It clearly is not though for the Bulls and that is a source of concern. A team does not go that cold without some problems.
And so Chicago is going to have to figure things out before moving forward and getting back on track.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee continues its hot start and is proving itself to be more than just the guard duo of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Those two combined for 16 points on 6-for-19 shooting. Most times that will not be enough for Milwaukee to win.
It was tonight as the Bucks bench stepped in and won the game.
3: HIGHLIGHTS!!!
Gasol's whirling dervish
Clear the runway for Russell
Andre Iguodala parts the defense
4: Line of the Night: Caron Butler — 33 points, 9/15 3FGs
Butler set a Clippers record by hitting 9 3-pointers, helping make up for Blake Griffin's career-low performance. Unfortunately, it was not enough for the Clippers to snap their losing streak and defeat the Hornets. Butler was among the many Clippers who missed critical 3-pointers down the stretch. Still a record-breaking night for Butler even in the loss.
5: You can quote me on that
You don’t want to mess with that kind of team. From the get-go, you want to pound on them.
–Spurs guard Tony Parker on putting away the winless Wizards
That’s how the game was invented, to play and have fun. You can tell they are having fun. You see us, we’re down. We’re moping. We’re pouting. We’re not together as a unit and things need to change.
