NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The Brooklyn Nets beat the visiting New York Knicks 96-89 in an overtime thriller on Monday in the first battle for ‘Big Apple’ bragging rights between the city rivals.
Brooklyn’s victory at the new Barclays Center lifted the Nets (9-4) into a tie with the Knicks (9-4) for first place in the Atlantic Division in front of a boisterous crowd.
“Every time some sort of Knick contingent started to cheer, our fans got louder and this is what we have been dreaming about since I have been here,” said Nets coach Avery Johnson, recalling sparse crowds in the last few seasons in New Jersey.
“It is a nice feeling and I am glad we rewarded our fans with a victory. They deserved it.”
Tied 84-84 after regulation, the Knicks scored the first basket of the extra period but the Nets countered with eight points in a row, the last three from hustling plays by Gerald Wallace to surge to a 92-86 lead and were never threatened.
“Fatigue set in,” said Knicks coach Mike Woodson, whose team, like the Nets, had also played on Sunday. “Brooklyn’s starters put in a lot of minutes also, but they had a little more energy.”
Center Brook Lopez led the Nets with 22 points, with Deron Williams and Wallace each scoring 16. Reserve player Jerry Stackhouse made 4-of-5 from three-point range and scored 14 points for Brooklyn.
Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks’ scoring leader who was born in Brooklyn, led New York with 35 points, while center Tyson Chandler had 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting with his hoops coming from tip-ins, follow-ups and slam dunks.
Missing veteran point guard Jason Kidd, who was sidelined by back spasms, Anthony played over 50 minutes and Chandler was on the court for more than 45 minutes.
