Knicks squeak out win against rival Nets to clinch at least top-4 playoff seed

Duncan Robinson

The Knicks didn’t come out resembling a team seeking to finally secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, instead looking like a gassed one playing the tail end of back-to-back games following an eight-day road trip. 

But like they have done throughout this season, the Knicks clawed back from a sizable first-half hole and overran the eliminated Nets in the third quarter before holding on for a 111-107 victory to clinch no worse than the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

“[Home court] means a lot. I’m excited to get that, get that going,” Jalen Brunson said. “This is the next step for us and so we have a chance to protect it, so we should. 

Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 30 points in the Knicks’ win against the Nets. Charles Wenzelberg

“But we want to be the best team we can be by the end of the year.” 

Tom Thibodeau’s team (49-32) still has a chance to steal the No. 2 spot in the East with a win Sunday over the Bulls and a loss by the Bucks (also 49-32) in their final game. 

The Knicks also can sew up the No. 3 seed with a win Sunday in t
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