by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

Late on the evening of Nov. 26, shortly after the Brooklyn Nets defeated the New York Knicks, Nets part-owner Jay-Z tweeted, “The city is under new management.”

It was a tweet to tweak. The Nets had improved to 11-6 and dropped the Knicks to 13-4, and the borough rivalry began to take shape.

However, the Knicks for the most part continued to win, and the Nets began to struggle in December, going 3-10 from Dec. 1 through Dec. 26. The Nets fired Avery Johnson on Dec. 27.

Since then, the Nets have rebounded under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo, who likely will keep the job through the end of the season based on recent success and with no viable replacement available now.

Brooklyn is 8-1 under Carlesimo and has won six consecutive games. While the schedule has been favorable (wins against Charlotte, Cleveland, Washington, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Phoenix), the Nets also beat Oklahoma City and Indiana.

The difference, beyond help from the schedule, is the Nets are scoring almost seven more points per 100 possessions (109.5) and allowing almost three fewer points per 100 possessions (100.3) under Carlesimo.

Center Brook Lopez’s strong season can’t be ignored and point guard Deron Williams has begun to emerge from his slump. In January, Williams is averaging 19.5 points, 8.3 assists, four rebounds and is shooting 46.8% from the field and 48.3% on three-pointers – all better numbers than his season averages, especially his shooting percentages.

Meanwhile, New York has struggled. The once-Eastern Conference leading Knicks aren’t scoring like they were earlier in the season. In the first six weeks of the season, the Knicks shot 41% on three-pointers, scored 111.1 points per 100 possessions and played a modicum of defense (102.3 points allowed per 100 possessions).

In the next month, the Knicks weren’t making threes at such an impressive rate (35%), the offensive slipped (105.5 points per 100 possessions) and the defense wasn’t as good either (104.5 allowed points per 100 possessions). Madison Square Garden hasn’t been so friendly either. After starting 10-0 at home, the Knicks have gone 4-5 at the Garden.

With the Knicks 24-13 and the Nets 22-15, it’s not … [For more on P.J. Carlesimo proving Jay-Z right about Brooklyn Nets, click here.]