Knicks top Nets 111-107, earn home-court advantage in 1st round of playoffs and stay alive for No. 2
Associated PressNEW YORK — The New York Knicks will be at Madison Square Garden to begin the first round of the playoffs. Jalen Brunson had 30 points and 11 assists after a slow start, OG Anunoby scored all of his 15 points in the third quarter and the Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-107 on Friday night, clinching home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. “We want to go through the finish line so that’s the way we’re looking at it,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said, “and we want to improve and play our best.” The Knicks won their fourth straight overall and completed a season sweep of the Nets that tied the all-time series between the local rivals at 107 wins apiece. New York outscored Brooklyn 30-13 in the third and went up by 11 in the fourth before the Nets got it close again. The Nets played without starters and key rotation players such as Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson and Dennis Smith Jr. Watford got his first start of the season and Jacob Gilyard made just his third appearance with the Nets after signing a two-way contract last month.