NEW YORK — In an impressive display, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 31 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, while Josh Hart achieved his second consecutive triple-double as the New York Knicks claimed their ninth consecutive victory with a 119-103 win against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. This win comes despite the absence of star player Jalen Brunson, who was sidelined due to tightness in his right calf.
Hart’s performance included 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists, making him the first Knicks player since Michael Ray Richardson in 1981 to pull off consecutive triple-doubles. This season, Hart has now accumulated four triple-doubles, positioning him as the fourth player in franchise history to reach ten triple-doubles.
For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges contributed notably with 27 points, while OG Anunoby added 22. Brunson’s absence was covered by Cam Payne, who stepped into the starting role and finished the game with eight points and nine assists.
On the other side, the Jazz struggled, with Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton each scoring 25 points. The loss marked the Jazz’s fifth consecutive defeat.
**Game Insights**
While the guards did their best to keep Utah competitive, Lauri Markkanen’s performance faltered as he shot only 6 of 22, resulting in 16 points overall. Meanwhile, the Knicks—who had upgraded their roster by adding players like Towns and Bridges to lessen the dependency on Brunson—continuously demonstrated their scoring capability without him, shooting an impressive 55% from the field.
**Turning Point**
New York faced a last-minute adjustment when Deuce McBride, initially slated to start for Brunson, reported left hamstring tightness during warmups. Cam Payne took his place in the starting lineup, leading to rookie Tyler Kolek playing 12 minutes off the bench. Earlier in the day, Kolek had made quite an impact, scoring 36 points and providing 11 assists in an overtime win for the Westchester Knicks against Indiana in a G League matchup.
**Notable Stat**
The Knicks have been on a remarkable run, winning 14 out of their last 16 games.
**Looking Ahead**
Next, the Knicks prepare to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, while the Jazz will be taking on the Miami Heat on Saturday.
