Complete history of the Brooklyn Nets playing on Christmas Day

Dec. 25, 1982

For the second straight year, New Jersey took down New York on Christmas Day in the most thrilling game yet. On Dec. 25, 1982, the Nets and Knicks played in front of 11,752 fans at Madison Square Garden.

New Jersey was in its second season under head coach Larry Brown, who received a technical foul during the game. It was a heated contest that went down to the wire and after Darwin Cook hit a layup with nine seconds left to play, both teams found themselves tied at 101 as the final buzzer sounded. It was Cook who also hit the Nets’ final shot in overtime. He finished with only six points but hit New Jersey’s two most important shots of the game.

As if the matchup wasn’t exciting enough, the contest also featured a sibling rivalry. Albert King’s older brother, Bernard King, led the way for New York with 32 points.

The Nets had the upper hand in overtime and earned the 112-110 win over New York. New Jersey shot 55.4% from the field (46-of-83) and the Knicks shot 51.6% (48-of-93). The Nets blasted New York on the boards, 52-34.

New Jersey had two players finish with double-doubles. Buck Williams had 30 points (14-of-15) and 12 rebounds and King added 17 points (8-of-17) and 11 boards. Three other Nets’ players scored in double-digits. Darryl Dawkins had 14 points (6-of-10) and both Foots Walker (3-of-5) and Mickey Johnson (4-of-8) contributed 13 points.

The Knicks were left with a discouraging 9-18 record, while New Jersey jumped out to 15-13. In the end, however, Nets were swept by New York, 2-0, in the three-game playoff series to conclude the 1982-83 season.