Nets down Knicks in overtime, 96-89

The Battle For New York is far from over, but the Nets took the first ever 'Clash Of The Burroughs', 96-89 in overtime.

With the brand new Barclays Center filled to the brim with a mix of Knicks and Nets fans, there was an electricity in the building that we rarely get to see in the first month of the season. Both sides will claim their fans took over the game, but there was an answer for every chant right until the final horn.

The Knicks and Nets were separated by just one game entering action Monday night and they were neck-and-neck all night long. Brooklyn led by three after the first quarter, but the Knicks came back to take a two point lead going into halftime. The Nets took back the lead after three before a fourth quarter that saw both teams nearly run away with the game.

New York had a chance to close out the Nets late in the fourth quarter, with a one point lead and less than a minute to go, but head coach Mike Woodson called the number of an ice-cold Raymond Felton, who promptly missed a jumper. The Nets then had their own chance to win the game, but Brooklyn center Brook Lopez hit just one of two from the line to tie things up with 22.3 in regulation.

Given another chance to feed one of the best pure scorers in the league with the game on the line, the Knicks didn't make the same mistake twice. Anthony was able to shake Gerald Wallace for a split second and get off a jumper that fell just short and these two franchises were headed to their first ever overtime in their first every matchup.

Lopez and Tyson Chandler traded buckets before Felton again took and missed another shot without Anthony touching the ball. Veteran Jerry Stackhouse took advantage with a corner three to give the lead to Brooklyn. A J.R. Smith offensive foul gave the ball back to the Nets, but after being fouled, Wallace could only hit one of two at the line, extending the lead to four points.

Refusing to be ignored again, Anthony quickly hoisted up a contested three that never had a chance and led to a Wallace finger roll to put Brooklyn up six with just over two minutes left.

The Knicks just couldn't get going on offense, with Steve Novack missing a three, followed by Anthony managing just a single free throw before he had his shot blocked on the next possession.

As Williams stood at the line to sink free throws with the outcome finally decided, he was showered with chants of "M-V-P".

A couple buckets and a frustration foul from Melo gave us a 96-89 final score in the first ever meeting between the Knicks and Nets.

Lopez led the Nets with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Williams and Wallace both chipped in 16.

Anthony continued his amazing season for the Knicks, playing all but three minutes and scoring 35 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. But he missed six free throws and was oddly invisible when it mattered most, held without a field goal in the final seven minutes.

These two teams will get back at it for the rematch on December 11 when the Knicks take another trip to the Barclays Center, once again on national TV.

Next up for the Nets are the Boston Celtics, while the Knicks head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks.

Nets vs Knicks 2012: Brooklyn Wins First City Showdown with New York, Moves into 1st with OT Win (via sbnation)