Knicks takeaways from Wednesday's 121-102 win over Nets, including a vintage Julius Randle performance

On Wednesday night in Brooklyn, Julius Randle's vintage performance helped the Knicks beat the Nets 121-102 after taking an early lead.

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Despite playing without centre Mitchell Robinson until February, New York announced centre Jericho Sims would miss seven to 10 days with an ankle sprain.

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Donte DiVincenzo, Randle, Brunson, Barrett, and Hartenstein start. Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton answered for Brooklyn.

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Before their first of four games, both teams were coming off West Coast road trips, and the Nets started poorly (2-for-13 from the floor).

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The Knicks converted defensive rebounds into points with Brunson grabbing three boards and two assists and DiVincinzo scoring eight early with three boards.

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With 3:18 left in the quarter, Hartenstein, making his first start of the season, rebounded and passed to Randle for a two-handed slam to take a 25-14 lead and force a Brooklyn timeout.

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A few possessions later, Hartenstein was called for a foul trying to stop Bridges and took a left elbow to the face, cutting his upper lip and drawing blood and sending him to the locker room.

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