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Knicks try to stay hot Wednesday hosting rival Nets
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 4/2/2014  at  6:23:00 AM
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BROOKLYN NETS (40-33)

at NEW YORK KNICKS (32-43)

Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: New York -2, Total: 198

The Knicks look to improve their chances of playing postseason basketball when they host the red-hot Nets on Wednesday.

Brooklyn defeated the Rockets 105-96 on Tuesday night, which snapped a 14-game losing skid in that series. The Nets have now won three straight games, averaging 109.0 PPG while giving up just 97.3 PPG over the course of the streak. The Knicks, however, have won two straight games while giving up just 83.5 PPG in those contests. They have now prevailed in three of their past four, and 11 of the past 14 games while they push for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, sitting just one game behind Atlanta for that final playoff spot. In two meetings this season, both teams have won-and-covered on the road. The most recent game was a 103-80 blowout in favor of the Nets on Jan. 20. Over the past three seasons, the Knicks are 5-4 SU against Brooklyn while the Nets are 5-3 ATS. Brooklyn is 19-10 ATS in the second half of this season and 31-19 ATS after two or more consecutive wins over the past two seasons. However, New York is 13-3 ATS after playing three consecutive road games over the past two seasons. The only significant injury in this game is rookie SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle), who is questionable for the Knicks.

Which New York team will pick up an important win on Wednesday night? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2012-13 season. StatFox Zach is a stellar 75% ATS (12-4) since March 9, while StatFox Gary is heating up with a 58% ATS mark (18-13) since Feb. 13. StatFox Dave has a strong 55% ATS (48-39-1) Best Bets record since Dec. 1, while StatFox Brian also remains profitable, going 54% ATS (26-22-1) since Jan. 25.

The Nets are one of the hottest teams in basketball and one player who has really stepped up offensively is SG Joe Johnson (15.8 PPG). Johnson is coming off of a 32-point performance against the Rockets, and is averaging 19.6 PPG (53% FG, 39% threes) over the past five games. In two meetings with the Knicks this season, Johnson is averaging 19.0 PPG and his size could really give the their guards some problems. PF Mason Plumlee (6.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG) has played very well for the Nets in the past two games, averaging 12.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 1.5 BPG over 25.5 MPG. Plumlee will need to be active around the basket and really make Tyson Chandler work inside. PG Deron Williams (14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG) will have a prime opportunity to dominate this game for Brooklyn, as he will be going up against a Knicks team that has a lot of trouble guarding the point guard position. Williams scored just 13 points with three assists in his one meeting with New York this season, but is averaging 16.6 PPG and 5.6 APG over his past five games. This stretch included a 29-point game he had against the Bobcats on March 26, which is evidence that he's still capable of exploding on any given night. SF Paul Pierce (13.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG) followed up two straight 22-point games with just four points against the Rockets. The Nets will need Pierce to get back on track if they are going to come away with a win in New York.

The Knicks escaped Utah with a 92-83 victory on Monday thanks to the scoring of SF Carmelo Anthony (28.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG), who finished the game with 34 points (11-of-19 FG, 4-of-7 threes) and eight rebounds while also adding a block and three steals defensively. The Knicks will need their superstar to have another two-way performance like that on Wednesday, similar to what he's done in the season series with 22.5 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 4.0 APG in the two meetings. C Tyson Chandler (9.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.2 BPG) was also excellent in the win over Utah, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 35 minutes. New York will need Chandler to defend the rim on Wednesday, and anything he adds offensively will be a bonus for this team. One player who cannot afford to slack off for the Knicks is PG Raymond Felton (9.6 PPG, 5.7 APG). Felton played well against Utah with 12 points and six assists, but his defense has been subpar all season. If he does not come to play defensively, Deron Williams will have a field day in running Brooklyn's offense. SG J.R. Smith (13.5 PPG) is averaging 18.0 PPG over the past five games, and is starting to look like the same guy that won the Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. If Smith, who has 11.5 PPG on 38.9% FG versus the Nets this season, continues to his great play, the Knicks will like their chances of inching closer to grabbing the final playoff spot.


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