
The Knicks got into a high-scoring shootout with one of the hottest teams in the NBA — the Sacramento Kings who were 10-2 coming in. NY built an early a 19-pt lead, allowed Sacramento to come back to within 3 pts in the 3rd quarter, then blew them off the court — intensifying their D and scoring from everywhere.
It was a Tour de Force win for the Knicks, giving fans an inkling that this may very well be a title-contending team this year. On a Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
- Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 pts and 15 rebounds and he was the only starter to not score 20 pts.
- Josh Hart was everywhere — scoring 20 pts with 18 rebounds and 11 assists.
- OG Anunoby was On Fire — 33 pts on 12-18 shooting (4-7 from 3),
- Mikal Bridges was On Fire too — 27 pts on 10-15 shooting (5-7 from 3).
- Jalen Brunson orchestrated and scored 25 pts on 9-17 shooting (4-6 from 3) with 11 assists.
- All the players on the bench had double-digit +/- numbers led by Precious Achiuwa had a team-high +27 in 18 minutes, with Landry Shamet a +20, Miles McBride a +16, and Cameron Payne a +14.
“You have to play well in all 4 quarters; that’s really where our focus is,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “It’s a good test, obviously. The togetherness was good. Our defense was good in the 1st quarter. Rebounding was good. Sharing the ball was good. OG had a monster game for us; great defense, running the floor, easy baskets, shooting the ball great. Josh was terrific. Jalen was great. Our bench gave us a huge lift. Even the guys who didn’t shoot well, they’re playing very well as a group and that’s important for us.”
NY improves to 30-16 and are 6.5 behind Cleveland and 2 behind Boston in the East. Sacramento falls to 23-22.
1. Knicks Jump on Top by 13 in 1st Quarter
Sacramento had beaten Boston, Houston, Dallas, and Memphis among other good teams in their 10-2 run coming in and have been playing a much-improved, high-flying brand of basketball under new coach (and former Knick) Doug Christie.
But NY jumped on top by 13 points in the 1st quarter, with good defense and hot shooting by starters Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby to start the period, and Landry Shamet off the bench to end the period. Shamet hit three 3’s late in the quarter and Precious Achiuwa scored 2 buckets inside, one off an offensive rebound.
josh to landry for 3 is gooood 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/jy7PuTLPwb
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 26, 2025
2. OG Everywhere; NY Up by 19 in 2nd Quarter
NY led 38-25 after 1 quarter and increased that lead to 19 points the first 6 minutes of the 2nd quarter.
OG Anunoby was everywhere — with a block to start the quarter, an offensive rebound and dunk, a drive-and-1 off a Mikal Bridges pass, a 3 from the corner, a steal off Domantas Sabonis for a Miles McBride drive, 3 made free throws after getting fouled shooting a 3, and then another 3 with 5:29 left in the quarter to put NY up 63-44.
OG with the two hand jam 🍇 pic.twitter.com/aus3MTW294
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 26, 2025
3. Monk Leads 25-8 Kings Run at End of 2nd Quarter
And then just like that Malik Monk got red hot — hitting a drive, and a 3, and a floater and Sacramento was down by 14. Sabonis hit a drive-and-1 off a Monk pass and then Keegan Murray dunked off a Monk assist and Sacramento was down by 9.
De’Aaron Fox, who had been held quiet, hit a drive and then Monk hit a step-back, Sabonis scored inside, and Monk hit a 3 and Sacramento was within 2 points at 67-65.
Josh Hart stepped up and stopped the Sacramento rush — scoring on a drive. Sabonis scored inside on the other end but Hart hit a pullup-and-1 with 4 seconds left to give the Knicks back a 5-point lead at the half. NY 72 Sacramento 67.
4. Teams Throw Haymakers at Each Other in 3rd
And then came the 3rd quarter and the two teams threw haymakers at each other — scoring seemingly at will on both ends of the court.
DeMar DeRozan started scoring for Sacramento, as did Keegan Murray, and Monk and Sabonis — while OG and Brunson and KAT and Bridges were lighting it up for NY.
KAT has a MEAN fadeaway, sheesh pic.twitter.com/zH6hYv9Ssf
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 26, 2025
NY maintained a slight lead throughout — but try as they might to increase the lead, Sacramento would come right back to pull within 3.
5. Knicks Intensify Defense, Blow Kings Away in 3rd & 4th
It was 97-94 NY with 4 minutes left in the 3rd when NY slowly but surely started to pull away; Sacramento started to miss some shots — NY gradually increasing their D.
Brunson was fouled taking a 3 with 4:01 left in the quarter; he hit all 3 free throws and NY was up 100-94. A Brunson drive, Josh Hart drive, and 3 Cameron Payne free throws after he was fouled taking a 3 gave NY a 107-96 lead.
Mikal Bridges ended the quarter with consecutive buckets inside and NY was up 11 entering the 4th, at 111-100.
Bridges scored the first 5 points of the 4th — with 2 free throws off a drive, then hit a 3 and NY was up 116-100.
Josh Hart was everywhere — with Defense, Rebounds, Assists, and went nuts on offense too with a drive, a 3 and another drive for 7 straight Knick points to give them a 123-105 lead with 8:19 left.
all HART, every game ⚡️@joshhart gets his sixth triple-double of the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/vO8LtxuDXx
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 26, 2025
“Josh Hart is simply going to outwork you in the game of basketball,” enthused NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “And no 40+vertical, unreal athleticism or length needed as he wants and owns every rebound, all 50/50 balls will be 20/80 balls, finds the open man with his unselfish play while playing his role. Josh dictates winning.”
Anunoby hit a 3, and Bridges kept pouring it on — a 4 and a drive — and NY was up 131-110 with 6 minutes left.
🚨 OG now has 33 points 🚨 pic.twitter.com/JhhKcCTdpL
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 26, 2025
An Anunoby steal off De’Aaron Fox leading to a Bridges drive put NY up 137-116 with 3:13 left — causing a Kings timeout as both teams emptied the bench.
Thibs pulled all his starters except KAT, who was the only starter that did not have 20 points. KAT immediately scored 4 straight points on drives after the timeout — and then was pulled with 18 points in 28 minutes — as Jericho Sims came in with 2:18 left.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705207
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