Knicks demolish Sixers behind Hart’s fourth triple double and Anunoby’s return

In a dominant performance at the Garden last night, the Knicks destroyed the Sixers 106-79. After suffering a tough 73-79 loss to the Sixers just two days ago, where the Knicks found themselves limited to their season low in scoring, the team bounced back in spectacular fashion last night.

The return of OG Anunoby to the lineup after missing 18 games due to elbow surgery injected a boost of energy into the team. Anunoby made an immediate impact, contributing 14 points on 6-11 shooting in 29 minutes of play, demonstrating his value to the team’s success.

Josh Hart notched his fourth triple-double of the season with an impressive stat line of 20 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. Hart’s stellar performance propelled the Knicks to victory, before being subbed out with just under six minutes remaining, narrowly missing out on what would have been his first 20-point, 20-rebound game. Hart’s endurance was highlighted by his streak of nine consecutive games playing over 40 minutes, cut last night by coach Tom Thibodeau who subbed him after logging 39:06 minutes.

“Everyone complained about me playing 40 minutes. I could have gotten my 20-20 game, but he took me out. So, appreciate it, Thomas.”

– Josh Hart

Jalen Brunson also made significant contributions with 20 points and 9 assists, while Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points to the Knicks’ offensive onslaught.

The Knicks maintained control of the game from the opening tip-off until the final buzzer, securing a wire-to-wire victory. They scored the first 6 points of the game and limited the Sixers to just 14 points in the opening quarter. As the game progressed, the Knicks extended their lead to its largest margin, leading 104-71 with just over 3 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Despite a brief surge by the Sixers with a 10-2 run in the second quarter, cutting a 15-point deficit to 31-38, the Knicks never allowed their opponents to threaten their commanding lead.

Anunoby’s return allowed for a reshuffling of the lineup, with Precious Achiuwa making a strong impact off the bench with 13 points and 8 rebounds, alongside Miles McBride, who also contributed 13 points in a reserve role.

For the Sixers, Kelly Oubre Jr. led the scoring effort with 19 points, while Tyrese Maxey, who missed the previous game due to concussion protocol, added 17 points.

The return of Anunoby has proven to be a game-changer for the Knicks, as evidenced by their impressive record of 13-2 with him in the lineup compared to 8-10 during his absence. Additionally, the Knicks’ ability to stifle their opponents’ offense has been a recurring theme, marking their third straight game holding their opponent to under 80 points for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

Up-next: The Knicks (38-27) will take on the Trail Blazers (18-46) in Portland on Thursday at 10:00pm