Towns dominates as Knicks stay perfect at home with W over Wizards

Karl-Anthony Towns looked every bit the All-Star big man on Monday night, powering the Knicks to a 119-102 win over the Washington Wizards and keeping New York’s perfect home record intact. Towns posted a season-high 33 points and 13 rebounds, commanding the paint from start to finish and setting the tone for a Knicks team that once again flexed its second-half dominance.

“Just saw opportunities to get some good shots up and be aggressive. I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.”

– Karl-Anthony Towns

Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each added 16 points, while all five starters finished in double figures. Landry Shamet got the nod in the starting lineup with Mitchell Robinson resting for load management on his recovering left ankle, and though it took the Knicks some time to find their rhythm, they eventually turned the game into another Garden statement.

The start, however, was anything but smooth. The Wizards led 32-22 early in the second quarter as the Knicks struggled to establish control. A brief surge gave New York a 50-41 advantage late in the half, but that momentum vanished quickly. Washington responded with a 13-0 run to retake the lead before the Knicks closed the quarter strong – Anunoby knocked down a three with 25 seconds left, and Towns followed it up with a four-point play at the buzzer to put New York back in front 57-54.

Whatever was said in the locker room clearly worked. The Knicks came out in the third quarter looking like a different team, storming the Wizards with a 41-24 explosion and never looking back. Josh Hart drilled a three to make it 94-67 with 2:30 remaining – the Knicks’ third consecutive three and their largest lead of the night.

Hart was the heartbeat of that third-quarter surge, scoring 10 of his 12 points in that frame on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting, including 2-for-2 from deep. He also finished with a double-double – 10 rebounds and 5 assists – doing all the gritty things that make him indispensable off the bench. Jordan Clarkson led the reserves with 15 points, giving the second unit a steady spark when the starters sat.

Washington, to its credit, kept competing and spread the production across its roster. Sophomore Alex Sarr led the way with 19 points, while Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, and Corey Kispert all chipped in 15 off the bench. The Wizards played all of their active players, with six reserves logging between 11 and 25 minutes, which helped them win the bench battle 44-33.

Still, the Knicks’ interior dominance proved too much. They outscored Washington 52-42 in the paint and controlled the glass, particularly on the offensive end where they held a 12-7 edge. Once the third quarter ended, the game was essentially over – another night at Madison Square Garden where Mike Brown’s group reminded everyone that they’re turning their home floor into a fortress.

The Knicks will now settle in for an extended stay at Madison Square Garden, with their next five games coming on their home floor.

Up-next: Knicks (4-3) will host the Timberwolves (4-3) on Wednesday night from 7:30.