Knicks 88, Nets 82: Knicks Finish Preseason Sweep Of Nets

If the two preseason games between the Knicks and Nets are any indication, although the NBA regular season starts on Christmas, basketball fans should prepare for some more preseason-level basketball. The Knicks won another sloppy preseason tilt against the Nets on Wednesday, 88-82, in New York's first game at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony led the way with 21 points and added eight rebounds and three assists, while Deron Williams paced the Nets with 21 points of his own. Tyson Chandler, in his first home game as a Knick, scored eight points, grabbed 12 rebounds and added two blocked shots.

Both teams struggled shooting, which is to be expected in any preseason affair. The Knicks shot just 33 percent overall, including making just eight of 30 three-point attempts. The Nets shot better at 40 percent, but turned the ball over 21 times. Certainly both the Knicks and Nets would have liked to have been a lot sharper with the regular season just days away.

Almost as important and gaining team chemistry and getting into a rhythm during any preseason is staying healthy. Knicks guard Mike Bibby left the game with back spasms, so his status for the Knicks' opener on Christmas Day against the Boston Celtics will be something to keep an eye on.

This was the first game back on the Nets for Kris Humphries, the solid NBA player who is now famous because of his failed marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian. Humphries was recently voted the most hated player in the NBA in a Forbes Magazine survey, and tonight was a preview of what he'll experience throughout the season in opposing arenas. The Garden crowd booed Humphries every time he touched the ball in his limited minutes, and chanted "We Want Humphries!" while he was on the bench.

Antics aside, the Knicks and Nets both have a lot of work to do to get ready for regular season-level basketball. If Wednesday's ugly game was any indication, it will be a bit of while before these teams resemble what they will at the end of the season.

New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets: Preseason Wraps Up At MSG

The New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets will finish their short two-game preseason schedule when they meet Wednesday night at the revamped Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m. The Knicks won the first meeting on Saturday 92-83 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

This presents the final tune up for both teams before they kick off the shortened 2011-12 NBA season. The Knicks open their regular season Christmas day against the Boston Celtics, while the Nets head down to the nation's capital on Monday to face the Washington Wizards.

New York will attempt to finalize the guards that will start next to their star front court of Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler.  Landry Fields and Tony Douglas look like the safe bets to get the nod this weekend, but that could change, especially if rookie Iman Shumpert turns in another solid performance. The newest Knick, Baron Davis, will eventually start at the point, but he is currently dealing with a back issue.

The only question mark in New Jersey's starting lineup was cleared up early on Wednesday when the team officially announced it had re-signed power forward Kris Humphries to a one-year deal. He could make an appearance against the Knicks at the World's Most Famous Arena to get his feet wet, but given his familiarity with coach Avery Johnson's system there's no need for him to be rushed into action.

The Nets have dropped five straight to the Knicks in the preseason dating back to 2008.

You can see the game locally on MSG.

Knicks 92, Nets 83: Knicks Come Out On Top In Sloppy Preseason Opener

The New York Knicks topped the New Jersey Nets 92-83 in the first game of the preseason at the Prudential Center in Newark thanks in part to 25 turnovers by the home team.

Renaldo Balkman led the Knicks with a game-high 20 points, Carmelo Anthony had 17 while Amar'e Stoudemire added 10 points and six rebounds in the first of the two preseason games these two teams will play before the NBA season kicks off on Christmas.  Tyson Chandler did a little bit of everything in his New York debut, scoring four points, grabbing four rebounds, three steals and swatting two shots.

Brook Lopez and Anthony Morrow each scored 15 points for the Nets in defeat.  Lopez also had game-high 11 rebounds and five blocks.  Deron Williams finished with nine points, six assists and six of those 25 turnovers.

It should come as a surprise to no one that both teams were rusty from the beginning.  The Nets shot an ugly 2-for-14 from beyond the arc while the Knicks hit on just 41 percent from the field.

These two teams will meet again on Tuesday to wrap up the preseason at Madison Square Garden at 7pm.

Time Warner May Not Show Knicks Games Anymore

Madison Square Garden Networks televises New York Knicks games and games for four NHL teams – the New Rangers, Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, fans in those markets may not be able to watch their teams on TV much longer. According to Madison Square Garden via ESPN New York, Time Warner Cable may drop MSG from its television lineup after the new year.

"We have been attempting to negotiate a new agreement with Time Warner Cable for close to two years, and are simply asking them to pay fair and reasonable rates that are consistent with what other providers pay for our programming - nothing more," Michael Bair, president, MSG Media, said in a release. "Unfortunately, Time Warner Cable is not interested in reaching a fair agreement, and, in fact, is not interested in conducting productive negotiations on behalf of its customers. Because of that, we suggest that our customers switch providers before Time Warner Cable pulls MSG's networks off its systems."

The agreement between Time Warner and MSG expires December 31, so expect MSG to be dropped if an agreement is not reached within the next two weeks.

New York Knicks At New Jersey Nets: Rivals Kick Off Preseason