Sitting right on the playoff bubble of the Eastern Conference standings, the New York Knicks will look for their first win of the season against the Nets when they visit Brooklyn on Monday night.  The Nets took both previous games against the Knicks this year and with rumours suggesting Kevin Durant could return to the lineup this week, all eyes will be on the roster updates as it gets closer to game-time.

Brooklyn is favoured on the NBA odds, but the exact number could be drastically different depending on the status of Durant and James Harden.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

New York is an even 25-25 on the season.  They have a losing record on the road, but playing in Brooklyn is essentially a home game for the Knicks.  They’re 28-21-1 against the spread and they’ve covered in five of their last six games against the Nets.  Boasting the best defence in the league, it’s not surprising to see New York has been an Under team 31 times this season, including five of their last six games.

The Nets have been scary at the Barclays Center this year.  They’re 20-6 in Brooklyn and have won seven straight home games.  Covering the spread hasn’t been as easy for them.  The Nets are 24-26 ATS and have failed to cover in five of their last six games.  They’ve also failed to cover in six of their last seven home games against the Knicks.

New York Knicks

The Knicks are essentially complete opposites of their cross-town rivals.  New York leads the NBA in points allowed per game (103.9), field goal percentage allowed (44.1) and 3-point percentage allowed (33.5).  They have a next-man-up mentality and were fairly quiet at the trade deadline.  One move they did make however, was re-acquiring Derrick Rose.  He provides a veteran presence, he can facilitate the ball on offence and he’s defensively responsible.

The biggest issue for New York is their well-documented struggles on offence.  They’re 28th in the NBA in points per game (104.8), 22nd in field goal percentage (45.1) and 21st in free throw percentage (76.4).  There is a little hope against the Nets though.  The Knicks are actually putting up 111.5 points per 100 possessions against bottom-10 defences in the league, which is a category Brooklyn falls into.

Brooklyn Nets

Last-minute injury news will affect this matchup more than any other game in the NBA so far this season.  Steve Nash has already said it’s very likely Durant will return to the lineup this week, but the exact game is unknown.  Harden has also been out of the lineup for the last few games due to a tight hamstring, so depending on if one, both, or neither of those players is in the lineup, the spread could drastically shift in this game.

Regardless of Durant and Harden’s statuses, Kyrie Irving will be a big factor in this game.  Irving is averaging 27.7 points (second to Durant), 5.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game (second to Harden).  Brooklyn averages 118.7 points per game, which is second-best in the NBA.  They also have the league’s best field goal percentage at 49.4 per cent and third-best 3-point percentage at 39.2 per cent.  Durant, who hasn’t played since Feb. 14, will likely be on a minutes-restriction if his is able to return for this game.  Harden, who averages a league-high 11.3 assists per game, has essentially missed a few games for rest, so he shouldn’t be limited if he returns on Monday.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Knicks vs. Nets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Knicks Team Leaders

NY

Points	Julius Randle 24.11
Assists	Julius Randle 6.01
Rebounds	Julius Randle 10.2
FG%	Norvel Pelle 71.4
Steals	Mitchell Robinson 1.13
Blocks	Nerlens Noel 2.2

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.94
Assists	James Harden 10.89
Rebounds	James Harden 8.53
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 76.3
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	LaMarcus Aldridge 2.2

NY

Points	Derrick Rose 19.4
Assists	Derrick Rose 5
Rebounds	Julius Randle 11.6
FG%	Taj Gibson 60
Steals	Taj Gibson 1.6
Blocks	Taj Gibson 1

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 34.25
Assists	James Harden 8.56
Rebounds	Kevin Durant 9.25
FG%	Alize Johnson 57.1
Steals	James Harden 1.67
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.58

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

NY

Points	Julius Randle 24.11
Assists	Julius Randle 6.01
Rebounds	Julius Randle 10.2
FG%	Norvel Pelle 71.4
Steals	Mitchell Robinson 1.13
Blocks	Nerlens Noel 2.2

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.94
Assists	James Harden 10.89
Rebounds	James Harden 8.53
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 76.3
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	LaMarcus Aldridge 2.2

NY

Points	Derrick Rose 19.4
Assists	Derrick Rose 5
Rebounds	Julius Randle 11.6
FG%	Taj Gibson 60
Steals	Taj Gibson 1.6
Blocks	Taj Gibson 1

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 34.25
Assists	James Harden 8.56
Rebounds	Kevin Durant 9.25
FG%	Alize Johnson 57.1
Steals	James Harden 1.67
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.58

Injuries

New York

Nerlens Noel (C)

Prob Fri Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Nerlens Noel (C)

Ques Wed Ankle - 24 / 05 / 21

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Derrick Rose (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21

Alec Burks (SG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 06 / 05 / 21

Alec Burks (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21

Norvel Pelle (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21

Nerlens Noel (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21

Taj Gibson (PF)

Ques Sat Eye - 21 / 04 / 21

Brooklyn

Alize Johnson (SF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 30 / 05 / 21

Jeff Green (SF)

Prob Sun Foot - 25 / 05 / 21

Landry Shamet (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 21 / 05 / 21

Joe Harris (SG)

Prob Sat Hip - 12 / 05 / 21

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Tues Face - 11 / 05 / 21

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Sun Knee - 26 / 04 / 21

Alize Johnson (SF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 23 / 04 / 21

Nicolas Claxton (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 19 / 04 / 21

Reggie Perry (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 19 / 04 / 21

Blake Griffin (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 16 / 04 / 21

Injuries

New York

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nerlens Noel (C)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Noel is bothered by a right ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will face the Hawks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Nerlens Noel (C)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 24 / 05 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Noel is bothered by a right ankle injury, it is unknown if he will face the Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-5	2-7	+ -
Bullock is battling a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Thursday's clash with the Spurs.
Derrick Rose (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-5	2-7	+ -
Rose missed the last contest due to to a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will face the Hornets on Saturday.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21	5-7	4-8	+ -
Quickley has missed the last three games due to a left ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will be available Thursday versus the Spurs.
Alec Burks (SG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 06 / 05 / 21	5-7	4-8	+ -
Burks has sat out the previous three games with a left knee contusion, but it is projected that he will suit up Thursday versus the Spurs.
Alec Burks (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21	6-7	5-8	+ -
Burks was removed from the previous game with an ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will play against the Nuggets on Wednesday.
Norvel Pelle (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21	6-7	5-8	+ -
Pelle is battling a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Wednesday's battle with the Nuggets.
Nerlens Noel (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21	6-7	5-8	+ -
Noel missed the last game with a sprained left ankle, but it is likely that he will be available Wednesday versus the Nuggets.
Taj Gibson (PF)	Ques Sat	Eye - 21 / 04 / 21	10-8	8-10	+ -
Gibson exited the last game with a lacerated right eyelid, and it is unknown if he will line up against the Raptors on Saturday.

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alize Johnson (SF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 30 / 05 / 21	6-3	2-6-1	+ -
Johnson is bothered by a left ankle sprain, and it has yet to be determined if he will dress for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Bucks.
Jeff Green (SF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 25 / 05 / 21	8-3	3-7-1	+ -
Green is managing a left foot strained plantar fascia, but it projected that he will be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Bucks.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 21 / 05 / 21	9-3	4-7-1	+ -
Shamet is bothered by a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference first round.
Joe Harris (SG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 12 / 05 / 21	12-3	5-9-1	+ -
Harris is dealing with hip soreness, but he is likely to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Celtics.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Tues	Face - 11 / 05 / 21	13-3	6-9-1	+ -
Brown is hampered by a facial contusion, and it is unknown if he will be in the lineup for Tuesday's tilt versus the Bulls.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 26 / 04 / 21	16-7	8-14-1	+ -
Brown has missed the last three contests with right knee soreness, and it has yet to be determined if he will take on the Bucks on Sunday.
Alize Johnson (SF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 23 / 04 / 21	17-8	8-16-1	+ -
Johnson is out of the lineup while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and there is no timetable for his return to action.
Nicolas Claxton (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 19 / 04 / 21	18-9	9-17-1	+ -
Claxton is sidelined while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return.
Reggie Perry (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 19 / 04 / 21	18-9	9-17-1	+ -
Perry it out of commission while he is enrolled in the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it is unknown when he will return to the court.
Blake Griffin (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 16 / 04 / 21	20-9	11-17-1	+ -
Griffin will not be in the lineup Friday versus the Hornets, as he will be given a day of rest.