The Knicks will enter the new year with plenty to celebrate, as they extended their win streak to eight games with a 126-106 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night at Capital One Arena.
Here are the takeaways…
— With a team-record 78 points in the paint against the Wizards on Saturday, the Knicks wisely maintained an aggressive approach to the basket. Of their 27 first-quarter points, almost half (14) came from inside the key. But the Wizards were able to match the attack through 12 minutes, as they tallied more paint points (16) and held a 30-27 lead. The Knicks also shot a putrid 1-of-11 from three and went four-plus minutes without a field goal.
— Josh Hart immediately helped boost the Knicks’ three-point percentage in the second quarter, nailing three straight shots from behind the arc in a quick 61-second stretch. He was also dangerous in the open floor, as he racked up 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting with six rebounds in the period. It was the most points Hart’s ever scored in one quarter with the team.
— While the Knicks’ first-half lead reached seven points, the Wizards didn’t let up. Both teams continued to trade buckets, and New York’s 59-57 halftime lead was nearly identical to its closely contested first half against Washington two days ago (60-60 score). The Knicks allowed Jonas Valanciunas to score 16 points by the break and were outscored a disconcerting 28-3 in first-half bench points.
— New York still couldn’t get more than an arm’s length away from Washington in the third. Despite the back-and-forth pace, the overall rhythm was peculiar and the defensive efforts appeared lackadaisical. But the quarter ended on a high note for the Knicks, as they extended their lead to nine, finished on a 13-5 run, and ultimately flexed their muscles.
— The Knicks finally pushed their lead to double-digits early in the fourth quarter, with two-way contributions from Deuce McBride off the bench. By the midway point, they held a comfortable 15-point lead and didn’t allow the Wizards to force a comeback. While Towns shot a pair of free throws, the crowd in D.C. produced a loud “Let’s Go Knicks” chant.
— All five of the Knicks’ starters scored in double figures, and Towns put a stamp on the game with 32 points and 13 rebounds in 32 minutes. Jalen Brunson, who scored a whopping 55 points in the District two nights ago, contributed 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting with six assists in 36 minutes. OG Anunoby also matched Brunson’s points mark and drained four threes.
“A well-balanced attack. I thought Josh was unbelievable the whole game, and then KAT’s second half was dominant,” head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after the game. “But we got good performances from a lot of people. I thought OG and [Mikal Bridge’s] defense, Jalen read the game beautifully. So, it was good. Precious came in and gave us good minutes, and then Deuce in the second half was terrific.”
— A mediocre shooting display from the Knicks in the first half was erased in the final box score. They finished shooting 46 percent from the floor (45-98) and 15-of-44 from behind the arc. They also shot an efficient 21-of-25 from the charity stripe and out-rebounded the Wizards, 54-46.
— Wizards rookie Bub Carrington exited the game late in the third with an apparent head injury, after colliding with and tripping over his teammate Valanciunas in the paint on a drive by Anunoby.
Game MVP: Josh Hart
Hart delivered a spark throughout the contest, recording his third triple-double of the season with 23 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists. It was the ninth triple-double of his career.
Highlights
What’s next
The Knicks (23-10) will begin the 2025 portion of their campaign back at home, with a New Year’s Day matchup against the Utah Jazz at 7:30 p.m.
