The Knicks are back in New York but have one more "away" game before returning to Madison Square Garden. The Knicks and Nets will square off on Wednesday for the first time this season.
Brooklyn is coming off three straight losses to Denver, Golden State, and Utah. The Nets are 13-13 in the East, in Play-In Tournament range with the No. 9 seed. Mikal Bridges has played in all 26 games and is averaging 21.9 points, which, as expected, is down from the 26.1 points he averaged to close out the 2022-23 regular season in Brooklyn.
This should be game fun, with the Villanova quartet (technically a quintet, but there's a slim chance Ryan Arcidiacono will play) back on the floor together. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart faced Bridges after the trade deadline last season, and now, New York has Donte DiVincenzo. Knowing Hart, he'll try to do some in-game recruiting to get Bridges to the Knicks.
Jericho Sims' status for tonight's game vs. Nets
Jericho Sims (ankle sprain) is listed as questionable. Sims has been starting since Mitchell Robinson went down. Isaiah Hartenstein has done well in Robinson's absence and finished with a season-high 17 rebounds against the Lakers after Sims got hurt.
UPDATE: Jericho Sims is out.
Knicks center Jericho Sims (right ankle sprain) is expected to miss one-to-two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Sims injured himself against the Lakers on Monday. The Knicks are already down starting center Mitchell Robinson with an injury. pic.twitter.com/to0PqTRDPr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2023
Ben Simmons' status for tonight's game vs. Knicks
Ben Simmons (back) is out. He's played in only six games this season, with the last one being on Nov. 6. He's away from the team recovering from a nerve impingement in his back.
Projected starting lineups tonight
Brooklyn: Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Nic Claxton
New York: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein
Knicks injury report
Jericho Sims (ankle) is questionable. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is out.
UPDATE: Jericho Sims is out. Josh Hart (knee) is questionable.
Nets injury report
Ben Simmons (back), Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring), and Dennis Smith Jr. (back) are out.
New York's next five opponents
New York will return to Madison Square Garden for a two-game homestand against Milwaukee.
Dec. 23 vs. Milwaukee
Dec. 25 vs. Milwaukee
Dec. 27 at Oklahoma City
Dec. 29 at Orlando
Dec. 30 at Indiana