Knicks 120–66 Nets: New York Smashes Brooklyn in Record 54-Point Rout at Madison Square Garden
The New York Knicks delivered a historic demolition of the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, cruising to a 120–66 victory at Madison Square Garden in the most lopsided win in Knicks franchise history.
The 54-point margin eclipsed every previous blowout in New York’s long NBA history and provided the perfect response to a four-game losing streak. For Brooklyn, it was another humbling chapter in a season drifting toward draft lottery positioning.
New York improved to 26–18 (17–6 at home), while the Nets fell to 12–30, now 18 games under .500.
First Half: Early Run Breaks Knicks vs Nets Wide Open
The competitive portion of Knicks vs Nets lasted only a few minutes.
Brooklyn grabbed a brief 6–4 lead, but that would be their last moment of optimism. The Knicks answered with a 14–0 run, sparked by Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored seven points during the surge.
Although the Nets briefly cut the deficit to 24–17, New York slammed the door before the end of the quarter, closing on a 14–3 burst to lead 38–20 after one.
The second quarter offered no relief:
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Towns opened the period with a three to make it 47–26
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The Knicks controlled pace, pressure, and the glass
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Brooklyn struggled to generate clean looks against tightened defense
At halftime, Knicks vs Nets stood at 60–38, and the outcome already felt academic.
Second Half: Margin Swells to 59 as Nets Crumble
Any lingering hope of a Brooklyn response disappeared quickly after the break.
Midway through the third quarter, a Jalen Brunson jumper pushed the lead past 30, and the Knicks closed the period ahead 88–56.
The fourth quarter turned into outright humiliation.
New York opened the final frame on a 16–0 run, stretching the lead to 59 points, the largest of the night. Brooklyn finally scored late to avoid a 60-point defeat, but the damage was done.
Brooklyn’s Collapse
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Shot 3-of-17 in the fourth quarter
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Finished with just 66 total points
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Only two players reached double figures
By contrast, the Knicks continued to play with purpose, treating the game as a statement following a players-only meeting led by Brunson earlier in the week.
Box Score Highlights
New York Knicks (26–18)
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Landry Shamet: 18 points off the bench, team-high, buried multiple threes
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Miles McBride: 14 points, relentless energy on both ends
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Karl-Anthony Towns: 14 points
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Josh Hart: 11 points
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Mikal Bridges: 11 points
New York placed five players in double figures and never needed extended minutes from its stars.
Brooklyn Nets (12–30)
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Michael Jr.: 12 points
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Ziaire Williams: 11 points
Brooklyn was out-rebounded, out-shot, and out-worked across all four quarters.
Scoring by Quarter
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nets | 20 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 66 |
| Knicks | 38 | 22 | 28 | 32 | 120 |
What Knicks vs Nets Revealed
For the Knicks
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The 120–66 blowout snapped a four-game losing streak
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Marked just their third win in 12 games, potentially a reset moment
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Defensive intensity, closeouts, and ball movement were noticeably sharper
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Clear response to internal accountability messages from Brunson and coach Mike Brown
For the Nets
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11 losses in 13 games signal a full rebuild mode
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Roster heavy on youth, with development prioritised over results
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The 54-point loss adds to a growing list of post-superstar blowouts
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Fan frustration continues to mount amid lottery-bound expectations
Final Word
Knicks vs Nets was supposed to be a rivalry game. Instead, it became a historic beatdown.
New York’s 120–66 victory not only set a franchise record but also served as a cathartic release after weeks of frustration. For Brooklyn, it was another reminder of just how wide the gap currently is between the two teams — and how long the road back may be.