The Knicks led 80-75 with 9:54 left in the game when Karl-Anthony Towns got the ball in the left post, and made his move against Joel Embiid — but was hacked by Kelly Oubre Jr, coming over to double team. The foul was called on Towns — giving Philly the ball — but Knick coach Tom Thibodeau challenged the call, and won the challenge.
It gave NY added momentum, as they reeled off 9 straight points to take a 14-point lead en route to a 111-99 win in Philly on a Tuesday night. A nationally televised (on TNT) in-season tournament game.
The Knicks’ Defense was the real reason for the run — which started on the play before with an OG Anunoby dunk — 11 straight Knick points overall.
Anunoby was a big part of that D, and also had another terrific offensive game, leading NY with 24 points on 11-16 shooting (2-4 from 3) and a+24. Josh Hart was also part of that D — and threw down a triple-double with 14 pts, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
“Josh Hart doesn’t just put himself in position to succeed he puts the Knicks in position to win,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “No accident that Josh turns 50/50 balls into 20/80 balls, rebounds by outworking all, finds the open man, defends, fearless, his slashing/cutting leads to good looks and he wants it more.”
NY improves to 5-5; Philly falls to 2-8.
1. KAT & NY Take Control Early
Philly is without Tyrese Maxey. NY is still without Precious Achiuwa, who should be back soon from the hamstring injury, and also without Mitchell Robinson, who is out until January after off-season surgery to his ankle.
NY had Cameron Payne back from injury; and Philly had Joel Embiid back from injury. Embiid created some controversy before the game by saying he wouldn’t be playing back-to-backs this season.
NY came out looking to make amends for their last game — a loss to Indiana where the Pacers were Red Hot from 3 in the 4th. NY defended well inside and made sure Philly didn’t get anything easy from 3. On offense, Karl Anthony-Towns went right at Joel Embiid inside.
KAT dominated the early going — Embiid didn’t even make a field goal until late in the half. He asked out for a rest midway through the 1st quarter as he was winded. Embiid would finish the game with 13 points on 2-11 shooting (1-5 from 3; 8-8 in free throws).
KAT would finish with 21 points on 7-16 shooting (2-6 from 3; 5-6 in free throws), 13 rebounds, 5 assists, a block, a steal, and a +11.
NY was in control early, jumping out to a 24-15 lead late in the 1st quarter.
2. NY DEFENSE Keeps Philly at Bay
Philly got back in the game on the jump shooting of Paul George, and lots of free throws by Joel Embiid.
But NY remained in control — Jalen Brunson operating for buckets or feeding KAT, OG Anunoby having a big game offensively, and Josh Hart defending and feeding teammates like Anunoby for slams.
put it in reverse, OG‼️ pic.twitter.com/xV6j5FdbeT
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2024
3. Barkley Says Good Things About Knicks at Halftime
At halftime, Charles Barkley said the combo of Brunson and Towns gave the Knicks a tough tandem, and then he asked who the Knicks had on their bench — and said if they could get some good bench players they would be a real good team.
But nobody on the TNT crew were listening to him as Kenny Smith was showing off his Connecticut University championship ring that had been gifted him, throwing it over to Shaquille O’Neal for inspection.
4. NY Leads by 3 Entering 4th
Philly took a 1-pt lead early in the 3rd quarter on a Paul George 3-pointer — but that seemed to wake NY up as they came right back on a Mikal Bridges pullup and OG Anunoby 3 to take a 4-pt lead.
An Anunoby steal and Josh Hart drive gave NY a 5-pt lead at 65-60. Miles McBride hit a 3 and NY was up 68-60.
Philly hung in however, and pulled back to within 1 at the end of the quarter on a Joel Embiid drive.
5. The Challenge Gives Knicks Added Momentum
NY was up 78-75 entering the 4th, and tightened up their Defense even more.
Josh Hart grabbed a rebound, and raced up court, feeding Anunoby for a dunk and NY had an 80-75 lead.
OG is a walking bucket 🪣 pic.twitter.com/Uqp90KrfCA
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2024
And then came the added-momentum call.
KAT got the ball in the left block, made his move against Embiid, and Oubre came over to grab his arm — KAT fell into both Embiid and Oubre — refs called the foul on KAT when clearly he was the one fouled.
NY won the challenge — and then put it into overdrive:
- McBride hit a 3,
- Brunson hit a drive,
- Anunoby dunked off a McBride assist, and
- Towns hit a jumper off a Hart assist. NY 89 Philly 75.
Towns dominated down the stretch — scoring inside, or hitting teammates for scores — including a no-look pass to Bridges underneath.
showing off that vision 👀@karltowns ➡️ @mikal_bridges pic.twitter.com/CbLgpSOa8a
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2024
6. Barkley Says Good Things About NY in Post Game
Barkley resumed talking up the Knicks in the postgame — and this time had been made aware that Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson were both on the NY bench but out injured.
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