Brooklyn Nets: 3 things to watch in another Battle of New York

The Brooklyn Nets take on the New York Knicks Monday night for the 2nd time this season, looking to go 2-0 on the year, Here’s three things to watch.

In an inter-city rivalry that really doesn’t need familiarity to breed contempt, the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks will meet Monday night for the fourth time this month for the second regular-season matchup of four between the clubs this season.

The teams met twice in the preseason — with the visiting team winning on the other squad’s home court each time — before Brooklyn took a 107-105 decision from the Knicks in its home opener on Oct. 19.

The Nets (2-4) enter having lost two games in a row for the first time all season after falling to the Golden State Warriors Sunday night, 120-114.

New York (1-5) has dropped five straight and last played Friday night, when they were manhandled by the Warriors in the fourth quarter 47-16 en route to a 128-100 defeat.

There have been some changes for the Knicks since their last meeting, most notably the demotion to the second unit of center Enes Kanter in favor of rookie second-round draft pick Mitchell Robinson.

Kanter had started every game he had played for New York since coming over in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017. Once a Sixth Man of the Year contender with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kanter isn’t taking much about returning to a reserve role, telling the New York Post:

"“I just go out and do my job. Coach said he wants me to lead the second unit. I’m just leading the second unit.”"

Kanter had eight points and 13 rebounds in 20 minutes Friday. But he’s been rough on the Nets, putting up a 20-20 game at Barclays Center in the preseason and going for 29 points and 10 boards in the Oct. 19 meeting.

Here are three things to watch as the Nets and Knicks collide (again) at Madison Square Garden.