Knicks-Nets Preview

By KEVIN CHROUST

(AP) -- The Brooklyn Nets' final games of the regular season aren't against playoff-caliber teams, but coach Jason Kidd is still trying to make them count toward getting his team properly prepared for the postseason.

The Nets' other remaining objective is to nail down the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, which they can secure Tuesday night with a home win over the New York Knicks.

After beating Orlando 97-88 on Sunday for its 17th win in its last 18 home games, Brooklyn (44-36) leads Washington by 1 1/2 games with the Wizards holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. Taking care of the eliminated Knicks (35-45) will end any mystery about the Nets' seed heading into their finale at Cleveland on Wednesday.

The Nets led by 12 in the fourth quarter, but after the Magic cut the lead to six Kidd re-inserted much of his starting lineup to close it out.

"We got to continue to get better each time we take the floor," Kidd said. "That's one reason why I brought those guys back late in the fourth, was to give them ... different situations of time and score and being able to execute and get stops."

After getting a game-high 20 points from Mirza Teletovic and 17 from both Joe Johnson and Mason Plumlee, the Nets have won seven of 10 and now are out to salvage a split of their season series with the Knicks.

Plumlee is averaging 14.8 points in his last five games while Teletovic is at 15.0 in his last three and is ready for the postseason.

"To be honest, I'm really excited to be going into the playoffs," Teletovic told the team's official website. "I think like everybody on this team, we're just trying to get ready for it."

The Nets and Knicks have yet to play a close game in this season series. Brooklyn lost by 30 at home in December and 29 at Madison Square Garden earlier this month, while it beat New York 103-80 on the road in January.

The Knicks have shot 50.5 percent overall and 45.5 percent from 3-point range against the Nets, who have shot 43.2 percent and 32.5 from long distance.

New York could provide a worthy challenge for the Nets, having won its last two games against Toronto and Chicago - one of which will likely be Brooklyn's first-round opponent.

Sunday's 100-89 home win over the Bulls was new territory for Carmelo Anthony, who is playing out a regular season having been eliminated from postseason contention for the first time in his career.

"Mentally, you just had to put yourself in that mindset. Although you're not playing for nothing, if you suit up, you've still got to go out there and play ball," Anthony said.

New York held the Bulls and Raptors to 39.3 percent shooting and is now after its 15th win in 20 games after compiling a 21-40 record through March 3. The Knicks are 8-3 on the road during the hot stretch.

After facing the Nets, the Knicks close the season Wednesday at home against Toronto, which will be their seventh straight game against a playoff team from the East. They're 3-2 to start that stretch.

"Being the coach, I just apologize to the fans, because again, they pay their hard-earned money to come out and see us play and we didn't come into this season expecting this," coach Mike Woodson said.