Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks Pick & Preview – 1/21/2026

The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks renew their crosstown rivalry on Wednesday night in a contest that could tell us a lot about the respective direction of both franchises this season. The Knicks enter this showdown struggling to rediscover the form that made them early-season contenders, while Brooklyn continues a long rebuilding process fraught with losses and growing pains. Here, I break down this battle of the boroughs in New York and bring you my Nets vs Knicks prediction.

Our Nets vs Knicks Pick

Game Snapshot

• Matchup: Brooklyn Nets @ New York Knicks
• Date & Time: January 21, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
• Broadcast: NBA League Pass

Key Storylines

Both clubs enter this game trying to find their footing. The Knicks have been sliding badly in January, losing nine of their past 11 games and dropping four straight entering this contest. Internal frustration has become a theme, with Jalen Brunson recently dealing with an ankle sprain that cost him a couple of games and now joking about its awkward origin while the team tries to lift itself out of a slump.

Coach Mike Brown has openly said adjustments are coming to arrest the losing streak, including tweaks to rotations after a blowout loss to the Mavericks. New York’s downturn contrasts with its strong start, when it played with a high offensive rating before sinking to mid-tier levels recently due to effort and execution issues.

Brooklyn’s situation is even bleaker, with the Nets languishing near the bottom of the NBA standings and struggling for consistency. A recent loss to Phoenix saw Brooklyn give up over 125 points while scoring 117 in a game that highlighted its defensive woes and rebounding issues. The Nets have lost 10 of their last 12 games and are often outpaced by superior offensive teams.

The Nets are 30th in points scored and at the bottom of the league in rebounding averages. Injuries aren’t a huge concern for either team. The Nets have Haywood Highsmith (out) and Day’Ron Sharpe (questionable) on their injury report, while the Knicks are largely healthy. Overall, this contest looks like a chance for the Knicks to assert themselves against a struggling neighbor.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

• The Knicks are 2-0 against the Nets this season.
• Both wins by the Knicks over the Nets this year have come by double-digits.
• New York is 21-23 against the spread so far this season.
• Brooklyn is 20-20-1 against the spread going into this matchup.
• The under is 24-17 in Nets games this year.
• The Knicks have gone over the total in 24 of their first 44 games.

Nets vs Knicks Model Projection

Final Thoughts

Jay Sanin

Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.