In the first match of the season between the two teams, the New York Knicks will host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. Mikal Bridges will face the Nets for the first time as a Knick in the Eastern Group A NBA Cup match.

Bridges was traded from Brooklyn to Manhattan in the offseason in the first deal between the teams since 1983. In return, the Nets received a huge return with six draft picks at the center of the trade.

In his first 11 games with the Knickerbockers, Bridges’ scoring dropped to 14.3 points per game after averaging over 19 points in his two seasons in Brooklyn. Defensively hasn’t been a major factor either, as New York has won five straight games. The Nets entered the game at 5-7 and generally outperformed low expectations before losing to Boston on Wednesday.

Nets-Knicks predictions and best bets

Notes: Odds are based on the best found by our experts as of the date of publication; Check the lineups close to game time to make sure you’re getting the best odds.

The gap is huge as the Knicks have yet to make collective progress, especially on defense. Brooklyn has just a 19.5 over/under in the preseason at DraftKings Sportsbook, but it has been more competitive than expected so far this season.

New York was unpredictable early on. It beat Philadelphia in its NBA Cup opener on Tuesday and then lost at home to an underdog Bulls team on Wednesday. This will be the Nets’ first NBA Cup game, and we expect them to prepare to face the Knicks as usual. The intangible factor of competition should help Brooklyn cover the spread.

Brooklyn ranks 20th in the NBA in terms of defensive efficiency, while New York ranks 19th. The Knicks rank fifth in offensive efficiency, so stacking the Nets could work as single bets or as the core of a negotiation.

Karl Anthony Towns is off to a great start on the offensive end, averaging 26.5 points per game and scoring over 30 points in three of his last four games. He scored a season-high 46 points against Chicago. Brooklyn is allowing 24.6 points per game to opposing centers, which ranks 24th in the NBA according to FantasyPros. He is listed as questionable due to a bruised knee, so keep an eye on his condition.

Nets vs. Knicks moneyline odds analysis

Why could New York be the favorite to win?

Best odds: -550 in BetMGM Sports Betting

The Knicks have won six straight games against Brooklyn. While this team hasn’t been consistent across the board, New York has a clear edge in terms of talent and should win if the offense flows better and Bridges can combine with OG Anunoby to solidify the defense.

Bridges may be ready to perform at a higher level against the team that traded him. He finished the game with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists against the Bulls. This was his first game this season where he had at least 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds.

New York ranks second in the NBA in effective shooting percentage (56.8) and third in true shooting percentage (59.9).

Anunoby scored more than 24 points in two of his last three games against Chicago and finished with nine rebounds and two blocks. Jalen Brunson has more than eight assists in three of the last four games. After hitting two key shots late in the loss against Chicago, the potential game-winner went out of the basket at the end of regulation.

Why can Brooklyn win as an underdog?

Best odds: +400 at bet365

The Nets split the first eight games of the season and took the Celtics to overtime on November 8. They also continued to struggle against the undefeated Cavaliers on Saturday before losing by five points.

Cam Thomas continues to lead Brooklyn with 23.8 points per game. He ranks second in the league in free throw percentage with 90.4%. Nic Claxton continues to lead the Nets with averages of 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He averaged 2.1 blocks per game last season, so we expect this average to increase. If he can recover from his back injury, Brooklyn will be better equipped to handle Towns.

Ziaire Williams became the team’s leading scorer for the first time this season, surpassing Brooklyn with 23 points against Boston on Wednesday.

Look for the Nets to take advantage of individual matchups whenever possible. They rank third in the NBA in points per possession on isolation possessions.

Brooklyn will also use weapons aggressively from the outside; 47.3% of the Nets’ shot attempts this season have been from three-point range. Among Eastern Conference teams, only Boston (55.9%) and Charlotte (49.7%) are taking more shots from beyond the arc (49.7%). The Knicks have allowed 13.7 three-pointers per game, which ranks 20th in the NBA according to TeamRankings.