The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks entered the Barclays Center on Wednesday night worn down from their time out West. The Nets went a disappointing 1-and-4 away from home, losing steam as the trip progressed, missing three back-court contributors. The Knicks went a more acceptable 2-and-2, but didn’t have big men Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims for Wednesday's matchup.
Despite each team’s wear and tear, both returning to the East Coast on red-eye flights after Monday games, their matchup was sure to have its usual juice. The last New York center standing, Isaiah Hartenstein, did his part as an instigator: “I mean, most of the time we go to Barclays, it’s mostly Knicks fans.