Brunson is on fire but in theory this is a rout and it's the second of a B2B for the Knicks, so anyone on earth not named Tom Thibodeau would yank their star early. In an ideal world, Knicks owner James Dolan texts Thibs during the game with NY up 25 and says: "You either listen to 24 hours of my horrible band that only exists because I am the son of a billionaire and do so inside the Vegas Sphere on Volume No. 11 or take JB out after 32 minutes!!" Thibs would simply press the Nets full court. Unless Brunson tops this through three quarters, guess I will be surprised if he's allowed to barring an unlikely close game.

Largely due, it would seem, to the exploits of Jalen Brunson, who continues to abuse NBA defenses and has scored at a near-Wilt-like 40 ppg pace across the past four games, the Knicks have altered their earlier "under" pattern for a decidedly "over" look in recent weeks. it's now "over" in nine of ten, and 11-2 the last thirteen games, after last night's latest offensive display in Boston, and this number inj the 210-range doesn't seem to reflect recent performances. The Knicks are also still motivated by improved playoff seeding, while six of the last eight Nets games have landed above this 209.5. Play Nets-Knicks "Over"

Drilling a bit deeper here on some slightly improved recent numbers from the Nets, and what we find is Brooklyn taking advantage of a lot of subpar opposition, with the likes of the Raptors (twice), Pistons, and Wizards on the recent victim's list. All since a 105-93 loss to the Knicks on March 23, even as Jalen Brunson (just 7 of 24 from the floor) endured a rare off-night for New York. The Knicks never looked better this season than last night in Boston when dismantling the Celtics (worse than the final 118-109 scoreline suggests, with another 39 points from the red-hot Brunson). New York should retain focus as it is still within sight of the second playoff slot in the East. Play Knicks

The Knicks dispatched of a half-hearted Celtics team Tues and didn't have to exert much to win, which is key back to back.. They are pushing to get as high a seed as possible and it's showing in their results: 8-3 ATS in last 11, all 8 wins by 11+ points. Nets, whose season stopped mattering weeks ago, 1-5 ATS last 6 and 8 of their last 8 losses are by 12+. NYK covered all 3 prior meetings including wins by 12 and 19 points. They seem quite locked in.