Winning streak ends in Utah as Jazz prevail 121-106

The New York Knicks’ four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in Salt Lake City, as the Utah Jazz powered their way to a 121-106 victory. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with a season-high 27 points, fueled by seven three-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a rough night of shooting and a Jazz squad firing on all cylinders.

The Knicks had flashes of brilliance, but inconsistency doomed their efforts. After falling behind 22-9 in the first quarter, they strung together a 19-4 run to briefly take a 28-26 lead. However, that momentum fizzled as they struggled to string together stops and buckets.

The third quarter was a microcosm of their night. Trailing 77-58 late in the frame, the Knicks mounted an inspired 17-0 run to pull within two points. Just when it seemed like they were poised to flip the script, the offense went ice-cold, shooting 1-for-8 down the stretch and finishing the quarter behind 87-78.

For the night, the Knicks shot a dismal 39-for-100 from the field, a key factor in their inability to sustain runs. Jalen Brunson put up 23 points and dished out 8 assists but struggled with efficiency, going 8-for-19 overall and just 2-for-9 from beyond the arc.

Karl-Anthony Towns had a rough outing, scoring 16 points on 6-for-19 shooting, including 1-for-9 from deep. Towns was scoreless in both the first and third quarters but still managed to haul in an impressive 16 rebounds.

Josh Hart added 17 points, joining Anunoby as the only Knicks to shoot over 50% for the game. Despite these individual efforts, New York lacked the firepower to match the Jazz.

“We’ve been struggling on the defensive side for the whole season. When you’re not making shots and you’re not playing well defensively, that’s a recipe for disaster.”

– Josh Hart

Utah was led by Lauri Markkanen’s dominant 34-point, 9-rebound performance, while Colin Sexton chipped in 25 points and 9 assists. John Collins rounded out the Jazz’s strong showing with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The Jazz controlled the boards (52-40) and maintained consistency on offense, securing their fourth win of the season. Meanwhile, the Knicks drop to 9-7, as they’ll need to regroup and refocus after a frustrating loss in which missed opportunities were the story of the night.

Up-next: The Knicks (9-7) will face the Nuggets (9-6) on Monday night from 9pm ET in Denver.