For the second time in three days, the Knicks beat the Nets at MSG. Sunday’s 114-104 final gives New York back-to-back wins over Brooklyn after Friday’s 124-122 result and brings Tom Thibodeau‘s team (7-6) above .500 for the second time on the early season while Jordi Fernandez‘s squad (5-9) has dropped three consecutive games.
1. Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) was a game-time decision but played and powered his way to his eighth double-double in 10 games. He finished with a game-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting while adding 15 rebounds and six assists. The Nets slowed Jalen Brunson, who scored 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting in 34 minutes, and the Knicks needed Towns to step up. He did, while battling the knee and an apparent back issue that flared up on a fourth-quarter fall, throughout his 30 minutes.
2. Mikal Bridges (21) and Josh Hart (20) pitched in key moments from both ends while combining for 41 points on 17-of-31 shooting over 45 minutes apiece while everyone in the Knicks’ starting five was a double-figure scorer. OG Anunoby was especially key in the first half, though, when the Nets refused to go away.
Anunoby scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half, including 7-for-11 shooting and a long-range clip that featured three makes on five shots. With Brunson struggling at three points on 0-for-5 shooting while the Knicks clung to a 60-57 halftime lead, Anunoby’s first- and second-quarter offense was especially pivotal en route to 40 minutes.
3. A 35-24 third quarter was the key difference as the Knicks pulled away from the Nets, but there were bright spots up and down Fernandez’s rebuilding lineup. Beyond Cam Johnson‘s team-high 22 points, second-year youngsters Jalen Wilson (15) and Noah Clowney (13) combined for 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting and continued to show flashes.
4. Ultimately, the Knicks overwhelmed the Nets as the game progressed. New York’s composure and talented was on display as the starting five pitched in throughout, especially while Brunson struggled and the rotation was down a key member in Miles McBride (knee). Cameron Payne popped off the bench with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting and six assists in 17 minutes.
Towns, who fought through the aforementioned injuries in a game where the Knicks needed him to step up while the Nets slowed Brunson.
The Knicks remain at MSG for a back-to-back and host the Washington Wizards Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The Nets, meanwhile, return across the bridge Brooklyn for Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. game against the Charlotte Hornets.
