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Knicks beat Nets 105-91 to split season series

Apr 2, 2016 - 3:11 AM NEW YORK (AP) Neither team gets local bragging rights, which is fitting since there's so little to brag about in New York this season.

Langston Galloway scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and the Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets 105-91 on Friday night to split the season series with their city rival.

''I think we just brought a lot of energy out and we just wanted to go out there and beat Brooklyn,'' Galloway said. ''We've been struggling against them lately, they got the last two, so we wanted to just bounce back and try to get a win on our home court.''

Derrick Williams had 16 points in place of injured starter Kristaps Porzingis as the Knicks avoided dropping the four-game series for the second straight season. Jerian Grant, also getting a start because of injury, finished with 14 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 13.

Porzingis has a strained right shoulder and Jose Calderon is out with a deep thigh bruise. It's unclear if either will play again this season.

Sean Kilpatrick scored 17 points and Brook Lopez had 16 in outplaying twin brother Robin on their 28th birthday, but the Nets fell apart in the fourth quarter of their fourth straight lopsided loss.

''It's a little tough finding a rhythm out there but there's no real good reason,'' Lopez said. ''We just haven't been playing up to our standards.''

The Nets, who lost in Cleveland on Thursday, rested starters Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic.

With both teams enduring miserable seasons, sitting key players and having no first-round drafts pick to look forward to, there was little buzz surrounding what's been called the Battle of the Boroughs since the Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012. The Nets had won six of the last seven matchups and were hoping to go 3-1 in consecutive seasons.

But the Knicks shot 50 percent from the field and limited the Nets to 35.6 percent in snapping a three-game losing streak.

''I thought guys played very well, especially coming down the stretch, kind of just taking advantage of the minutes that were given to them,'' Anthony said.

Porzingis is out with a strained right shoulder that could end his rookie season. Interim coach Kurt Rambis said the starting forward was day to day, but also made it clear he would only play again if Rambis and the medical staff were comfortable he could do it without fear of further injury.

The Knicks led 47-46 at halftime after Galloway's jumper took an unusual bounce and went in. New York then opened the third quarter with three straight 3-pointers for a 10-point lead, and Williams was 3 for 3 behind the arc in the quarter as New York opened a 77-70 advantage.

TIP-INS

Nets: Brooklyn has lost nine straight road games. ... The Nets fell to 17-12 in April since their first season in Brooklyn in 2012-13. ... Thomas Robinson had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his third straight double-double after having two in the first 64 games.

Knicks: Cleanthony Early had three baskets in the second quarter, matching his total for the entire season coming into the game. Early hadn't appeared in a game since getting shot in his right knee during a robbery on Dec. 30. ... Kevin Seraphin scored 12 points off the bench.

INCHING AHEAD

The Knicks reclaimed the lead in the all-time series during the regular season, 92-91. The teams have split 10 playoff games. Also, Robin Lopez took a 7-6 edge against his brother.

MORE PORZINGIS?

Rambis was asked before the game if he would play Porzingis again this season if the Latvian was less than 100 percent.

''I would be the last person to recommend that he comes back and puts himself in a situation where he could cause more harm to himself,'' Rambis said. ''That would be ridiculous of us as an organization and a medical staff. They won't allow that to happen.''

UP NEXT

Nets: Host New Orleans on Sunday.

Knicks: Host Indiana on Sunday.