After handing the Chicago Bulls their first loss of the 2025-26 season, the New York Knicks followed up with another dominant performance, cruising to their second straight win and a home 119-102 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Karl-Anthony Towns got off to an explosive start for the Knickerbockers, filling the box score early. The star big man posted eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the opening quarter alone, before finishing his night with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
Towns capped off the first half in dramatic fashion, drilling a contested three-pointer from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to extend New York’s lead to 56–53 at halftime.
Despite a sluggish start, the Knicks quickly found their rhythm after falling behind 30-24 at the end of the first quarter. A strong second frame flipped the momentum as New York surged ahead by three points heading into the break.
After torching the Chicago Bulls from beyond the arc on Sunday night, the Knicks struggled to replicate that success against Washington right out of the gate, shooting just 23% from three-point range in the opening period.
For the second straight night, Jordan Clarkson gave Mike Brown’s team a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points in his first nine minutes to command the offense and keep New York in control.
It was evident that Wizards head coach Brian Keefe designed his defensive game plan to contain Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, as Washington shadowed him throughout the night, limiting him to just nine points in the first half.
However, Brunson responded in the second half, finishing the night with 16 points and nine assists to help fuel New York’s offensive surge.
The Knicks really broke the game open in the third quarter, extending their lead to 91-65 with 3:20 remaining in the period.
OG Anunoby provided the toughness and intensity New York needed to secure its second straight win, finishing with 20 points on 54% shooting from the field and five steals.
In the end, New York’s win served as a reminder of their toughness and ability to respond when things don’t start according to plan.
After a sluggish first half, the Knicks found their rhythm, locked in on defense, and showed what they can do when they play their brand of basketball, taking over games and putting opponents away.
It’s the type of response you expect from a team determined to prove they belong among the East’s contenders, especially against a struggling Wizards squad.
