There are only two NBA games on Tuesday, both of which feature playoff teams taking on sides with sub-.500 records. It's white collar versus Williamsburg. Three-star Michelin restaurants against mom-and-pop diners. And, for the Knicks, one game closer to the sweet end of a misused season.
NBA schedule 2014: Battle for New York
Brooklyn and New York face off for the last time this season on Tuesday.
Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports
Main Course: New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets
8 p.m. ET (TNT)
New York finally lost out on the last little sliver of hope for the playoffs to the Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks are playing solely to get their young guys some reps try and convince Carmelo Anthony that there's some kind of functioning organization with Phil Jackson at the reins. That, and the ability to play spoiler.
The Nets are sitting in the No.5 spot and waiting to play Chicago or Toronto in the first round. Going into the postseason with a loss to their division rivals isn’t the way to start things off. Brooklyn has been back on track ever since the first of the year, when its playoff and championship expectations came back into the fore after a disappointing 10-21 start to the season.
Dessert: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Denver has been playing well lately, winning four of its last six games. While the Nuggets will miss the playoffs, they still have the ability to play games with the Clippers just like the Knicks can with Brooklyn. L.A. is locked into the No. 3 spot in the West, but a loss to the Nuggets with everyone fully healthy and playing well could be a feather in Brian Shaw’s cap.
For Los Angeles, making sure its playoff rotation is set and that everyone is healthy is crucial. J.J. Redick re-entered the lineup on Apr. 3, and Jared Dudley also recently found his way back. With Doc Rivers looking for one thing and one thing only -- a title -- losing to the Nuggets isn't an option if the Clippers want to take confidence into the postseason.
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