Breaking down key lessons the Brooklyn Nets can take from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to MVP status and how it could shape their own rebuild.

NEW YORK — It’s the matchup Tyrese Haliburton wanted — one-on-one with the Knicks captain — and with just under five minutes left in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals matchup between the Knicks and Pacers, Indiana’s All-Star guard dialed his own number.

Hindsight is 20/20, and Brooklyn Nets fans surely have plenty of it when comparing the diverging paths of their team and the New York Knicks as the latter prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pacers staged a dramatic comeback in the final minute to force overtime, then held off New York in the closing seconds. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s All-Star guard, delivered the clutch shot at the buzzer to tie the game and send it to the extra frame.

According to Windy, the Knicks were criticized for giving up too much to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. However, the arrival of his former Villanova teammate made it easy for Jalen Brunson to decide to sign a new deal with New York.

No, Jalen Brunson was not waving goodbye ... During his podcast with Brunson, Hart had some fun with the Nets. The two were talking about the recently completed Subway Series, when Hart said ...

Mikal Bridges was college teammates with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. But that familiarity didn’t preclude Bridges from needing an adjustment period with the Knicks.