Struggling Nets Face Knicks in Rivalry Game

The Brooklyn Nets face the New York Knicks on Sunday evening at Madison Square Garden, seeking to build on a recent breakthrough win amid a challenging start to the 2025-26 NBA season. The matchup, set for 6 p.m. ET, pits the struggling Nets, who sit at 1-8 in the Eastern Conference, against the Knicks, who hold a 5-3 record and the No. 6 spot in the East.

The Nets enter the game after a 125-107 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, their first defeat since snapping a seven-game losing streak with a 112-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. In the Pistons game, Brooklyn squandered an early 10-point lead, allowing Detroit to shoot nearly 60 percent from the field and score 78 points in the paint. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 28 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Noah Clowney contributed 19 points, including 12 in the first four minutes on four 3-pointers. The loss highlighted ongoing defensive issues, as Brooklyn ranks last in the league in points allowed at 127.6 per game and 25th in field-goal percentage defense.

Prior to the Indiana win, the Nets had dropped their first seven games, putting them on pace to challenge the franchise's...