Knicks dominate late, defeat Kings 143-120 behind Anunoby’s 33 and Hart’s triple-double

The New York Knicks put on an offensive clinic, defeating the Sacramento Kings 143-120 in a high-scoring affair that wasn’t as smooth as the final score suggests.

OG Anunoby led the way with a season-high 33 points, while Mikal Bridges chipped in 27 points and 7 assists to help the Knicks pull away after a rollercoaster of a game.

“I definitely try to be more aggressive. There was a spell where I wasn’t getting touches, wasn’t getting shots. And I’m trying to be more aggressive, trying to assert myself more in the game.”

– OG Anunoby

The Knicks looked dominant early, building a 63-44 lead midway through the second quarter, capped by a three-pointer from Anunoby. That 19-point advantage seemed to put them in control, but the Kings had other plans.

Malik Monk caught fire in the second quarter, dropping 18 of his 31 points during a torrid stretch where he went 7-of-10 from the field. The Kings answered with a ferocious 21-4 run, cutting the lead to 65-67 and giving the Knicks something to worry about heading into halftime.

After the break, the Kings kept things tight. Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 25 points, made a finger-roll layup with 4:28 left in the third, trimming the deficit to just 94-97. It looked like Sacramento might flip the script entirely. But that was as close as they’d get.

The Knicks flipped a switch and unleashed a 19-6 run that blew the game wide open early in the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 116-100. From there, the Knicks only built on that momentum, outscoring the Kings 32-20 in the final frame and sealing a dominant win.

Josh Hart was everywhere for New York, tallying his sixth triple-double of the season with 20 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Jalen Brunson added 25 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a double-double with 18 points and 15 boards. The Knicks starters were the backbone of this victory, combining for 122 of the team’s 143 points, with all five finishing in double figures.

The Kings, despite the loss, had their bright spots. Monk’s 31-point, 9-assist effort kept them competitive through the first three quarters, while Sabonis and DeMarr DeRozan added 25 and 18 points, respectively. But it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Knicks, who outclassed them on both ends of the floor.

New York dominated the glass, outrebounding Sacramento 53-38, and their ball movement was sharp, tallying 40 assists compared to the Kings’ 33. From deep, the Knicks hit 17-of-36 (47%) from three, slightly outshooting the Kings’ 14-of-36.

Up-next: Knicks (30-16) will host the Grizzlies (31-15) on Monday from 7:30pm.