Well, well, well. Brooklyn Nets fans have gotten used to sharing their home floor with Knicks fans in the past. At times over the years it's felt like there was a fairly even split at Barclays Center in terms of allegiance.

It makes sense. The Knicks didn't have to share this town for the better part of the last hundred years. Now they do. And tonight, it was the “Brooklyn Brigade” who made their presence felt at MSG.

Cam Thomas helped lead the Nets to a ridiculous 28-point comeback in an otherwise hostile environment.

There was no Kyrie Irving because the game was in New York. Even though it was a Nets road game, he's still ineligible to play here, at least for now. Kevin Durant is still out, nursing a sprained MCL. KD's progress is coming along. Ben Simmons has no clear timetable, and Joe Harris probably isn't someone this team can rely on moving forward. 

So, this team was quite shorthanded. Thank goodness for Kevin Durant and whatever role he played in making sure Cam Thomas is in this town.

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report noted the following on Tuesday:

“But Durant's strong connection with Steve Nash from their days with the Golden State Warriors played a critical role in Nash's being hired as head coach. Durant is consulted on every major decision. He was instrumental in Brooklyn's drafting Cam Thomas with the No. 27 pick in July, sources said, and Durant reiterated his desire for Thomas to remain with the Nets past this deadline.”

And man did that pay off.

Thomas, the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of LSU,  had 21 points, four rebounds and two assists vs. the Knicks. The Nets defeated the Knicks, 111-106.

Thomas did most of his damage in the final quarter going seven of 10 for 16 points. The 6'4” guard born in Yokosuka, Japan surprised plenty of onlookers for the nationally televised battle of the boroughs. But he surprised precisely nobody in his own locker room, as his Nets teammates have already seen him ooze confidence throughout the season. They've already seen him hit overtime daggers.

Remember this floater he drained with 1.4 seconds to go vs. the San Antonio Spurs?

Wednesday, he added to his collection of game winners with this bomb:

Ice cold, Killa Cam. For the Knicks, the defeat marks the third time in their last seven games they've blown a 20-point lead. They're in some organizational disarray. Unlike the Nets who are waiting on Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, and Joe Harris to get back on the floor, the Knicks are basically at full strength. They are rudderless in a much deeper way than the Nets, who recently lost 11 straight, ever were.

Right now there is simply no rivalry between these teams. Knicks President Leon Rose may wish there were a second trade deadline. He may have missed his chance to either improve, or go tank mode by standing pat last week.

Newcomer Seth Curry had another big game. It was his second as a member of the Nets. Curry said he's noticed a positive vibe among his new teammates. Before the game, coach Steve Nash talked about how he expects to lean on Curry. He thinks the Duke product will have a bigger role on his new team that he had on the Sixers.

Curry responded to the extra responsibility and hit a game high six for nine from SoHo, to go with a game high six assists. He was also a game high +27, plus-minus. As LaMarcus Aldridge said after the game, Curry provides “instant offense.”

But the night belonged to the rook.

“It was 16 on the clock,” said Thomas, recollecting the game's biggest play, “so we just went in the backcourt, and then when I seen coach Steve tell 'em everybody flatten out I knew it was you know, one-on-one time, I just went to my go-to move, so glad it went in 'cause I was struggling tonight,” Thomas said.

Thomas finished just 1 of 5 from three but he hit the one he needed to most.

“It felt good when I stepped back, I was like ‘I got enough lift on it, it looked good.' And thank god it went in and we got that win, for sho,” said Thomas after he helped put this one on ice.

Thomas was asked where this game-winner ranks on his quickly expanding list. “It's up there for sure 'cause it's in the NBA, at the Garden, so definitely up there. I'd probably say right now that's my top two favorite shot. Summer league shot, that was pretty cool for me too….yeah, Spurs number three… I probably say this is number one though just 'cause 28-point comeback, it's top of the key, kinda like one-on-one really, so it's up there,” Thomas said.

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“He's definitely talented,” praised LaMarcus Aldridge. “He has an early knack for scoring. Like he just knows how to score early already. His growth is coming along, far as knowing how to read, when he's doubled, when to drop it off,” Aldridge said. Aldridge said he doesn't have to coach Thomas up too much because Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving take the lead on that. He said it's impossible not to be confident when you have those two helping you along. And Thomas soaks it all up. Just absolutely oozing confidence.

“Coach Steve” talked about how Cam has a certain clutch gene.

“We know that about Cam. We've seen it in summer league, we've seen it at times this year, he loves those moments, there's a gene in there somewhere,” Nash said. “It shows you what’s inside of Cam.”

Brooklyn Brigade took over The Garden. And KD, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons weren't even out there yet. Dare we say, this could get scary down the road?