Knicks extend winning streak to 9 with confident 119-103 win against Jazz

The New York Knicks are on fire. With a 119-103 win over the Utah Jazz, they extended their winning streak to nine games, thanks to a stellar performance from Josh Hart, who posted his fourth triple-double of the season.

Hart finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking his second consecutive triple-double—an achievement only five players in franchise history can boast. The last time a Knick managed back-to-back triple-doubles was Michael Ray Richardson in 1981.

Karl-Anthony Towns was, of course, an absolute monster in the paint, posting 31 points and 21 rebounds, while also reminding everyone why he’s leading the league in rebounds with 439. His one-handed dunk over two Jazz defenders in the fourth quarter, which gave the Knicks a commanding 99-83 lead, was a statement of intent—this game was over. The Knicks dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Jazz 32-24, with a 10-0 run to start the period.

Even without their starting point guard Jalen Brunson (out with a calf injury) and Miles McBride (who injured his hamstring during practice), the Knicks’ depth shone through.

Veteran Cameron Payne stepped up, contributing 8 points and 9 assists in his 66th career start, while rookie Tyler Kolek made his presence felt in his 12 minutes of play. Kolek had also played for the Westchester Knicks earlier in the day, putting up 36 points and 11 assists in a G-League overtime win.

“We have great depth. We’ve got guys that can score the ball. It just shows the difference between last year and this year.”

– Josh Hart

The Jazz made a brief run in the first quarter, leading 18-8, but the Knicks quickly responded with a 16-4 run to close the gap. After that, they never let up, taking the lead in the second quarter and holding it for the rest of the game.

Mikal Bridges added 27 points, while OG Anunoby chipped in with 22 points. Bridges’ three-pointer with 1:22 left pushed the lead to 117-97, Knicks’ highest of the night.

The Knicks’ dominance on both ends was evident—they shot a scorching 55.3% from the field, compared to the Jazz’s 40.6%, and utterly controlled the paint, outscoring Utah 70-50 inside.

The Jazz had strong individual performances from Colin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, each scoring 25 points off the bench, while Lauri Markkanen contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to withstand the Knicks’ all-around effort.

With nine straight wins, the Knicks are rolling and are heading into their next test—a road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently sit atop the Western Conference.

Up-next: The Knicks (24-10) travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder () on Friday night from 8:00pm.