That Was Easy. NY 134 Washington 106

November 19, 2024 LouV 2024-25 0

The Knicks blew the gaskets off the Wizards from start to finish in a 134-106 thumping at Madison Square Garden on a Monday night.

The game was billed as a matchup between Karl-Anthony Towns, and Alex Sarr, the 7’0 rookie from France who was the #2 pick in last June’s draft and has been playing well. Towns swept the floor with Sarr, scoring at will against him for 24 points on 8-14 shooting, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and a +22 while not even playing the 4th quarter. Towns limited Sarr to 8 points on 4-12 shooting and a -25.

Jalen Brunson had 26 pts on 9-15 shooting (5-9 from 3), 11 assists, and a +26 while also not playing the 4th quarter.

The Knicks scored at will, hit 3 after 3, and defended in the romp — wherein NY was up by 20 early, and 30 for most of the 2nd half. Cameron Payne came off the bench and hit 3 after 3 — 17 pts on 6-9 shooting (5-6 from 3).

“I thought the tone was set with KAT and Jalen, particularly Jalen — the way he came out; that aggressiveness — was huge to set the tone for the game,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “And then when you look at the way Mikal (Bridges), and OG (Anunoby), and Josh (Hart) are playing — they’re creating a lot of good stuff for us, with their defense but then also getting it up the floor quickly and then starting the cutting game which is huge for us. And then the other guy who gave us a huge boost was Cam (Payne) — he’s a catalyst; he goes in the game somethings going to happen, and it’s going to be fast, and it’s good.”

NY improves to 8-6. Washington falls to 2-11.

1. Knicks Up by 13 After 1 Quarter

Washington has a young team in rebuilding mode managed by rookie coach Brian Keefe — who used to be an assistant coach with the Knicks assigned specifically to Kristaps Porzingis.

The Wizards have hope with the rookie Sarr, and also have Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, and Jordan Poole — so they can score — and they jumped out to a 12-7 lead after a Sarr dunk and Kuzma 3.

And then the Knicks took over.

Brunson took it to the basket aggressively while Karl-Anthony Towns absolutely dominated inside and outside.

Mikal Bridges hit shots, and Josh Hart drained a couple of open 3’s and NY was out to the races, leading by 13 after the 1st quarter.

2. Knicks Up by 25 in the 2nd

The 2nd quarter was more of the same. The 2nd team came in and increased the lead, with Pacome Dadiet hitting a couple of 3’s and Tyler Kolek a jumper.

Jericho Sims continued to play excellent defense and broke free on offense for a dunk and a drive.

Towns returned with 2 minutes left in the half and immediately hit Hart for a driving layup, then made a drive.

Washington’s Kuzma and Valanciunas made the last 2 buckets of the half to cut the NY lead to 19 at intermission.

3.  Knicks Up by 34 After 3

NY took it to another level in the 3rd, as Towns, Brunson, Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart pushed the lead to 30.

Brunson really caught fire at the end of the quarter, hitting 3 straight 3’s — the last one a 3-and-1 for a 4-pt play, putting NY up by 34.

4. Reserves Start the 4th

Thibs rested the bench to start the 4th quarter — putting Cameron Payne, Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, Jericho Sims and Ariel Hukporti on the floor with NY up by 34, at 109-75.

And then Washington scored 10 straight points to make it 109-85 and Thibs called timeout. He had just put back in Josh Hart before the timeout, and after the timeout put OG Anunoby back in, as well as Jericho Sims for Hukporti.

Out of the timeout, Cameron Payne caught Fire, first feeding Kolek for a 3, then hitting consecutive 3’s himself as the Knicks built back their lead.

Mikal Bridges soon came back in for Kolek, and immediately hit 2 jumpers and NY was back up by 29. Payne continued to score down the stretch, with a deuce and a 3.

It was an old fashioned romp.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704812

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