Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks Earn Vengeance Over Jazz

The shorthanded New York Knicks opened 2025 on a high note against the Utah Jazz.

Jan 1, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes to the basket against Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks were missing some vital instruments but they still managed to open the new year on a high note against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

Despite lacking both Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride, the Knicks earned their revenge against the Utah Jazz, putting up a 119-103 decision on New Year's Day at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks (24-10) picked up where they left off in 2024, winning their ninth in a row and atoning for a 15-point loss to the hapless Jazz in Salt Lake City in November.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart put up sterling Knicks history on Wednesday: Towns earned 31 points and 21 rebounds while Hart had a triple-double (15 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists) for the second straight game. The duo becomes the first in Knicks history to earn a 30-20 game and a double-double since Walt "Clyde" Frazier and the late Willis Reed.

Jan 1, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) hangs on the rim after a dunk against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

In further entries to Knicks statistical royalty, Hart became the first New Yorker (and fifth overall) to post consecutive triple-doubles since Michael Ray Richardson in 1981 while Towns became the third Knick to have multiple games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in one season alongside Bob McAdoo and Patrick Ewing, who last pulled the feat off in 1989-90.

Brunson was declared out shortly before tip-off and it was originally announced that McBride would take his place in the starting five. McBride, however, was said to have endured hamstring woes during warm-ups and was, in turn, replaced by Cameron Payne. In his first start as a New Yorker, Payne dished out nine assists and also swiped three steals. With Brunson out, Mikal Bridges (27) and OG Anunoby (22) rounded out the sterling efforts of the Knicks' starting five by uniting for 49 points on 22-of-33 from the field.

Jan 1, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes to the basket asUtah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Four threes from the Jazz (7-25) created an early lead, one that summitted at 10 in the opening period, but the Knicks stole it for good on a Precious Achiuwa dunk at the onset of the second. From there, the Knicks managed their lead, getting it up to as much as 20 despite joint 25-point efforts from Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton.

Utah dropped its fifth in a row and missed out on a chance to earn its first sweep of the Knicks since 2021-22. Shutdown defense from Anunoby limited Lauri Markkanen to a brutal 6-of-22 effort from the field that stifled any comeback's progress. A Clarkson triple just before the three-minute mark of the third narrowed the Utah gap to four but the Knicks had the lead back up to eight by the end of the period before scoring the first eight of the fourth. The Jazz never got any closer than 13 and Hart officially broke their will with a showstopping dunk in the latter half.

The Knicks now hit the road for a weekend back-to-back. Part one will serve as a reunion with Isaiah Hartenstein as the Knicks face the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).

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