Randle bounces back with 39 points as Knicks defeat Wizards 121-105

The New York Knicks clinched their second consecutive victory, on the road against the Washington Wizards with a final score of 121-105. This win follows a successful back-to-back series for the Knicks.

Julius Randle, having faced a challenging 1-11 night in Philadelphia, rebounded spectacularly with an impressive performance, amassing 39 points. Jalen Brunson also made a significant impact, contributing 33 points and 8 assists. Notably, Isaiah Hartenstein‘s dominance on the boards with 19 rebounds added a crucial dimension to the Knicks’ game.

The Knicks asserted their dominance right from the beginning, setting the tone for the game. They achieved their largest lead of 56-30 late in the second quarter, showcasing an impressive team effort on both ends of the court.

While the Wizards made valiant efforts to stage comebacks, the Knicks responded with resilience. In the fourth quarter, the Wizards closed the gap to 101-91 following a 12-2 run, prompting a surge of hope for the home team. However, the Knicks swiftly countered with key threes from Brunson and a pivotal two-pointer from Randle, effectively sealing the game with five minutes remaining.

In the third quarter, the Wizards managed to cut a 20 point halftime lead by the Knicks to just six. Just like in the fourth quarter run, it was Brunson and Randle, along with Donte DiVincenzo (10 points) who stepped on the gas pedal to put the Knicks up 91-75 before the fourth quarter.

Once again, the Knicks experienced a road game filled with the unmistakable energy of their passionate fans. Their presence resonated throughout the game, with away fans showering Julius Randle with “M-V-P” chants during his free-throw attempts.

For the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma led the scoring with 27 points, accompanied by a solid performance from Deni Avdija, who contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrus Jones added 11 points to the Wizards’ efforts.

With this win, the Knicks extended their remarkable record to 14-1 against teams with losing records and maintained an undefeated 4-0 streak since the OG Anunoby trade. Currently boasting a 21-15 record, the Knicks find themselves in the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, with a slim 0.5-game lead over Miami, Orlando, Indiana, and Cleveland, all of whom share the same 20-15 record.

Up-next: The Knicks (21-15) return to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday with another easy game against the 9-25 Trailblazers