For the 2nd straight game played in Washington, the Knicks could not shake the lowly but pesky Wizards, until they finally distanced themselves in the 4th quarter and won easy, 126-106 on a Monday night in DC.
Josh Hart was the Knick engine all evening, scoring 14 straight points for the Knicks in the 2nd quarter and laying down another triple double with 23 pts (on 7-15 shooting, 4-8 from 3), 15 rebounds, 10 assists and a +25.
Karl-Anthony Towns took over in the 4th, with massive dunk after massive dunk and 32 pts (on 13-18 shooting) overall, with 13 rebounds and a +21.
“We executed; we got stops; we played fast; we played to our strengths,” said Josh Hart afterwards about the Knicks late 2nd half surge. “Sometimes it takes us a little while to wake up, but we always do.”
NY improves to 23-10; Washington falls to 5-25.
1. Knicks Adjust But Can’t Shake Pesky Wizards
NY had just barely beaten the Wizards in OT in Washington 2 nights earlier, and came from behind late in the 4th quarter to do so. In that game, the Knicks couldn’t hit the 3 and Washington could — which allowed the Wizards to stay with NY all night.
Thibodeau made adjustments and this time out NY shut down the guys who killed them from 3 the prior game:
- Justin Champagnie was only 1-8 (1-6 from 3) for 3 pts and a -17;
- Bilal Coulibaly was 1-10 (0-4 from 3) for 6 pts;
- Carlton Carrington was 2-6 for 6 pts; and
- Kyshawn George was 1-6 (1-5 from 3) for 4 pts and a -16.
But this time, Alex Sarr — the 7-foot center who was the #2 pick in last June’s draft — had a better game with 18 pts on 7-13 shooting (3-6 from 3). Jonas Valančiūnas also rolled out a big game off the bench — 22 pts on 10-13 shooting with 9 rebounds.
Malcolm Brogdon also caused trouble with 18 pts on 5-11 shooting, and Corey Kispert came off the bench for 16 pts on 6-10 shooting.
Kyle Kuzma was also back for this game — and scored 9 pts on 4-9 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench.
And so even though the Knicks came out looking to take it to the Wizards from the start — and took a 17-13 lead in the 1st quarter — the pesky Wizards came right back and led 30-27 after 1 on scores late in the quarter by Kispert and Kuzma.
2. Hart Takes Over in 2nd Quarter
Josh Hart laid it down in the 2nd quarter — taking no prisoners with 14 straight points — including 3 straight 3’s, drives, and step-backs in the lane, along with offensive and defensive rebounds and hustle plays. On one play he grabbed the offensive rebound, then hit a 3-and-1 (his 3rd consecutive 3) to tie the game 40-40.
Josh Hart’s lighting up from beyond the arc tonight 🎯
(via @TheStrickland) pic.twitter.com/hgzN5n8Mnt
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 31, 2024
“Like clockwork Josh Hart will outwork you on the glass, 50/50 balls are 20/80 balls, defends, finds the open man, makes extra effort plays and the extra pass and you see his improved jumper,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “But even more impressive is u never have to run anything for Josh to get his and to be engaged.”
Hart’s flurry gave NY a 44-43 lead and a Cameron Payne 3 off a Hart assist gave NY a 47-43 lead and some daylight. A Josh Hart drive-and-1 gave NY a 50-43 lead.
But the pesky Wizards came right back. Valanciunas was answering Hart’s scoring with buckets inside and then Malcolm Brogdon scored 5 straight points at the end of the quarter and the Knick lead at the half was only 59-57.
3. Knicks Take Control at End of 3rd
It was more of the same for most of the 3rd quarter — no matter what the Knicks did, they couldn’t shake the pesky Wizards, coached by Brian Keefe.
OG Anunoby hit a 3 early in the period, followed by a Karl-Anthony Towns dunk, hook shot, and drive off a Hart assist and NY was up 75-70.
it’s not deja vu he did it AGAIN 😵💫‼️
Vote Knicks #NBAAllStar ⭐️ https://t.co/ZaYEPRZwLl pic.twitter.com/RdV1RK3UnP
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 31, 2024
Another 3 by Anunoby put NY up 79-70.
OG from deep 🎯
Vote Knicks #NBAAllStar ⭐️ https://t.co/ZaYEPS04AT pic.twitter.com/RoZoQw6MPW
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 31, 2024
But Washington came right back — a 3 by Sarr and by Kispert, a drive by Valanciunas, and another 3 by Kispert and NY’s lead was cut to 84-83.
Finally — at the end of the 3rd quarter — NY put some daylight between themselves and Washington: a Mikal Bridges pullup off a Jalen Brunson pass, a Miles McBride 3, and a Precious Achiuwa pullup off a tremendous offensive rebound and pass by Hart, and NY was up by 9 — 97-88.
Josh Hart’s offensive rebounding 💯💯
Keeps it alive as Achiuwa floats it in for 2! pic.twitter.com/oHPUpi8OSB
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2024
Achiuwa blocked a Jared Butler shot near the buzzer to keep the score 97-88 entering the 4th.
4. Towns Powers Knicks in 4th
FINALLY, the Knicks took over in the 4th quarter — pushing the Wizards away.
Brunson fed McBride for a bucket, then made a bucket himself, then McBride hit a pullup, and a 3 by Precious Achiuwa put NY up 106-94.
Karl-Anthony Towns then took over, with a bucket-and-1 inside, then dunk after dunk after dunk against Sarr, showing the rookie how its done by big men in the NBA.
KAT wants to put an exclamation point on this game! Towns with 32 points and @nyknicks are up by 21 in the 4th!#NewYorkForever | @KarlTowns | @alanhahn pic.twitter.com/ehXKqebBnM
— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) December 31, 2024
KAT’s 3rd dunk of the quarter gave NY a 120-99 lead with 4:21 left and ballgame.
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