Knicks Beat Nets 114-104 as Karl-Anthony Towns Shines with 26 Points and 15 Rebounds

Jalen Brunson struggled with a season-low 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting, but the New York Knicks still managed to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 114-104 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, marking their second win over Brooklyn in just three days.

Karl-Anthony Towns stepped up for the Knicks with a dominant performance, registering 26 points and 15 rebounds, helping New York (7-6) bounce back above .500 for the first time in over two weeks.

Despite leading the Nets (5-9) with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, Cam Johnson acknowledged the challenge the Knicks posed, particularly with Towns’ scoring surge in the third quarter. “The big moment in the game was when Karl started to score and demand attention,” Johnson said. “With them, it’s not just one guy you have to worry about.”

In 34 minutes of play, Brunson contributed 10 assists and five rebounds, continuing to lead the Knicks’ offense. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Brunson’s resilience, noting, “As long as we win, Jalen feels good. It says a lot about him.”

The Knicks tallied 33 assists as a team, with every starter scoring 20 points or more, demonstrating their balanced offensive attack. Towns commended Brunson’s court vision, saying, “When the double teams came to him, he made the right pass every single time.”

Looking ahead, the Knicks face a quick turnaround with a Monday matchup against the Washington Wizards before heading out on a five-game road trip starting Wednesday at the Phoenix Suns.

Mikal Bridges, who added 21 points for the Nets, emphasized the Knicks’ offensive progress: “We’re finding it pretty well, but it’s a journey. We’ve got a long way to go.”