NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns delivered an impressive performance, posting 31 points and securing 11 rebounds as Mikal Bridges added 27 points, propelling the New York Knicks to a decisive 122-103 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
OG Anunoby contributed 23 points, while Cam Payne added 13, helping the Knicks break their two-game losing slump.
On the other side, Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 25 points, and Marcus Smart provided a spark off the bench with 17 points, although their efforts couldn’t prevent Washington from enduring a fourth consecutive loss.
The Knicks dominated early, taking an 82-51 lead with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Wizards, currently holding the NBA’s worst record, staged a spirited comeback attempt that ultimately fell short.
Despite being outscored 25-10 in the final minutes of the third quarter, New York still held a 92-76 advantage heading into the final period. The Wizards showed resilience, launching a 12-point run capped by Smart’s 3-pointer, which closed the gap to 92-88 with 9:14 left.
The Knicks promptly regained control with a 9-0 run, extending their lead to 101-88 with 7:15 remaining, thus putting the game beyond Washington’s reach.
Takeaways:
Wizards: Washington struggled with their 3-point shooting, starting just 1-for-10 in the first quarter and ended up 11-for-36 for the entire game.
Knicks: Payne made an impact with 10 points during the first quarter as he started in place of Deuce McBride, who is nursing a bruised left groin. McBride has been substituting for Jalen Brunson, who is out with a sprained right ankle.
Key moment:
After Marcus Smart’s 3-point shot narrowed the gap to four points, Payne sunk a crucial 3-pointer with 8:55 to play, initiating a game-ending 30-15 run in favor of the Knicks.
Key stat:
Rookie Tyler Kolek, who sees limited action, posted a career-high eight assists, with seven of them coming in the first half.
Up next:
The Knicks continue their three-game homestand, facing Dallas on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Wizards will host Toronto on Monday.