On December 29th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the New York Knicks visiting the Washington Wizards. The Knicks, ranked third in the Eastern Conference and currently on a six-game winning streak, faced off against the Wizards, who are comfortably at the bottom of the East with little to lose or gain from this game. The Wizards started strong at home, taking a 16-7 lead, but the Knicks quickly caught up and by halftime, the score was tied at 60. In the second half, both teams engaged in an offensive battle, with the Wizards going on a 15-2 run in the third and fourth quarters to build an 11-point lead. However, the Knicks managed to close the gap thanks to the outstanding performances of Brunson and Towns. In overtime, Brunson took control of the game, and the Knicks secured their victory with solid free throws, ultimately winning 136-132.
The Wizards, aiming for the Flag Cup, focused on offense over defense, relying heavily on their shooting performance. They matched the Knicks' intensity with a barrage of three-pointers, making 17 shots at a 44.7% rate. In contrast, the Knicks struggled from beyond the arc, making only 10 out of 40 attempts at a 25% rate. Despite this, the Knicks turned the tide with their inside scoring and transition points off turnovers. Throughout the game, they dominated the paint with a 78-60 advantage in points and outscored the Wizards 26-18 on points off turnovers.
The Knicks' comeback from an 11-point deficit to an overtime victory was largely due to the combined efforts of Brunson and Towns, who displayed their dominance as one of the league's strongest duos. Brunson played 44 minutes, shooting 18 for 31 (3 for 11 from three-point range) and 16 for 17 from the free-throw line, accumulating a comprehensive stat line of 55 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists. His performance ranged from scoring 14 points in the first quarter to exploding for 19 points in the third, and from securing 5 crucial points at the end of the fourth to clinch overtime to scoring another 9 points in the extra period to seal the win. Brunson's incredible output earned him MVP chants from the home crowd. He also set a new personal season-high with 55 points and became only the second player in Knicks history to score 50+ points three times, tying with Gallen and trailing only Bernard King (5 times).
Towns played 43 minutes, shooting 13 for 19 (2 for 5 from three-point range) and 2 for 3 from the free-throw line, contributing 30 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks, with a plus-minus of +8. Against the Wizards' inexperienced frontcourt, Towns dominated both offensively and defensively, showcasing his versatility and impact. In the fourth quarter alone, he scored 10 consecutive points, proving to be both tough and critical. Tom Thibodeau clearly understands how to utilize Towns, who is currently playing at the highest level of his career. So far this season, Towns has played 30 games, averaging 24.5 points, 13.5 rebounds (leading the league), 3.4 assists, and 2.2 three-pointers, with career-high shooting percentages of 54.5% overall, 44.7% from three-point range, and 83.2% from the free-throw line. Based on current form, Towns is considered the strongest center in the East and is likely to secure an All-Star starting position, potentially joining Brunson in the Eastern Conference All-Star lineup!
With this victory, the Knicks extended their winning streak to seven games, the longest active streak in the East. They now hold a 22-10 record, placing them third in the East, 3.5 games ahead of the fourth-placed Magic (19-14) and 1.5 games behind the second-placed Celtics (23-8). The Knicks are in a favorable position to maintain their third-place standing and challenge for second. However, their biggest concern lies in Coach Thibodeau's heavy reliance on his starting five. The Knicks' bench averages only 20.4 points per game, ranking last in the league. Additionally, several Knicks starters have high average minutes played, with Bridges (39.2 minutes), Hart (36.9 minutes), Anunoby (36.4 minutes), Brunson (34.9 minutes), and Towns (34.2 minutes) all among the top 30 in the league. Over the course of a long season, the excessive workload on the starting lineup could become the Knicks' biggest obstacle to sustained success. What are your thoughts on this, basketball fans? Leave a comment and let's discuss!