The difference in Knicks-Nets rivalry: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving

Knicks' Julius Randle not helping cause with silent treatment

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It was admirable the Knicks looked at Wednesday’s Nets contest as a big game and a potential big win as they play out the string. Obi Toppin said it was a victory they had “to have,” and they built a 21-point lead early in the third quarter.

But the Nets of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry wouldn’t let this be a Knicks night, wouldn’t let them have one nice parting gift before Tom Thibodeau’s club shuts it all down Sunday.

The Nets, outhustled for 2¹/₂ quarters, bombarded the Knicks in the game’s final 16 minutes and racked up a double-digit win, 110-98.

For a change, there were plenty of Nets fans inside “the mecca’’ who made a racket as Durant finished with a triple-double, Irving racked up 24 points and Curry and Patty Mills put up a pair of 15-point nights.

The Knicks (35-45) are out of the postseason and the Nets, for all their marquee talent, are only on its fringes.

But they still reminded everyone what superstars can achieve and they awoke in time to knock out the star-less Knicks, whose best player, RJ Barrett, still has trouble shooting from range and closing in a clutch way.

“That helps,’’ Thobdeau said, laughing when asked about the Nets possessing two superstars for a tight fourth quarter. “But I love our young guys. I love what they’re doing and they’re getting better and better.

Kyrie Irving celebrates with Kevin Durant during the Nets' 110-98 win over the Knicks.
Kyrie Irving celebrates with Kevin Durant during the Nets’ 110-98 win over the Knicks.
Jason Szenes

“Hey look, those guys over there were once young guys, too. It’s part of this league. Trial and error. Kyrie, Kevin, throw in Patty and Curry, you get that through experience. The more we go through it, the better we’ll get at it.’’

Barrett has 23 points, but it was a messy 23 as he shot 7-for-27 — 2-for-11 from 3-point range. The Knicks mustered two points in the final five minutes.

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