With a tough schedule coming ahead for the Nets, Wednesday’s matchup needed to be a must win for them. New York won’t be making the postseason this year, but they came with the mindset of doing everything in their power to play spoilers against their cross rival.

Brooklyn started the first period visiting the free-throw line frequently, as they converted seven of their first eight attempts. Finding their shots also didn’t seem to be much of a problem as they hit on 50 percent of their field goals. Last time Deron Williams played at Madison Square Garden, he had put up 29 points. In the second quarter, he put up 12 points, which gave him a total of 18 by halftime. After two quarters, it was a five-point game in favor of the Nets.

Andrea Bargnani was leading the Knickerbockers at the half with 18 points. Despite trailing, New York was shooting it at 54 percent. Turnovers were a major problem for New York as they had 10 while the Nets had five at the time. In the third stanza of the game, Brooklyn outscored the opposing team, 27-18, while shooting it at 63 percent for the quarter. It was starting to look like the game was slipping away for New York as they were trailing by 14.

The Knicks began to climb back within reach in the final 12 minutes of the game. At the 8:34 mark of the final period, New York went on a 10-2 run. Cleanthony Early then scored five straight points and made it a four-point game. Early’s aggression on the offensive end kept building as he then tied the game with 1:07 remaining in regulation by knocking down a three pointer. From that point on, both teams went ice cold as no one could buy a shot. With two seconds left, the birthday boy, Brook Lopez, hit the game-winning shot as he rebounded a missed shot by Williams. New York had one final shot to either win the game or force an overtime period, but the contested three-pointer by Early did not go down.

Brooklyn is now 10-1 in matchups decided by three points or less, best in the NBA. For the fourth time in franchise history, Brooklyn sweeps the season series against their cross rivals. Williams finished the game’s highest scorer with 26 points, to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists. Lopez put up 18 points and seven boards. Nets rookie Markel Brown had a solid game with 14 points. Bargnani led New York with 22 points. Early concluded with 14 points, which all came in the fourth quarter.

Both squads will be back in action on Friday, April 3rd. Brooklyn will host the Toronto Raptors while New York visits the Washington Wizards.