The Knicks have a different problem: their offense hasn't shown up. The champs opened 0-3, the first title defender to do that since Dallas in 2011. After the home loss to Orlando, where they shot 9-of-37 from 3 and gave up 40 points in the 4th quarter, they ranked 29th in offensive efficiency. Jalen Brunson took the blame himself: "Everything falls on my shoulders."
The most recent Knicks loss looked a lot like the slow start. Philadelphia won the NBA Cup group-play opener 98-93. New York trailed 29-21 after 1 quarter and never got the lead back, even though the Sixers were missing Jaylen Brown and most of their centers. Brunson went 6-of-19. Tyrese Maxey had 27. Mike Brown has said his starting 5 is set and everyone else has to earn minutes. He's already shown he means it, pulling Andre Drummond in the 2nd quarter of the Orlando loss for a lack of defensive effort.
Brooklyn's injury report hasn't changed in a while. Egor Demin is still out, and the club just picked up his 3rd-year option. Tyler Bilodeau is still dealing with the shoulder problem that kept him out against Indiana. With Demin out, the Nets are thin in the backcourt, and that matters against a Knicks team that runs everything through Brunson.
The schedule is the biggest factor here. The Knicks will have had a couple of days off since Philadelphia. The Nets will be coming off a game in Indiana the night before, and whatever happens there will set the mood in Brooklyn's locker room. On paper, a rested, cold-shooting Knicks offense gets a tired defense that has let everyone score. Tip is 7:30 PM ET.