Josh Hart scored 10 points during a decisive third-period run Monday night for the host New York Knicks, who pulled away and beat the Washington Wizards19-102.
Hart (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Karl-Anthony Towns (33 points, 13 rebounds) each posted double-doubles for the Knicks, who won both ends of a back-to-back at home. New York defeated the Chicago Bulls 128-116 on Sunday night.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby had 16 points apiece. The duo combined for 12 points in the third quarter, when the Knicks outscored the Wizards 41-24 to take a 98-78 lead.
Jordan Clarkson scored 15 points off the bench while Landry Shamet had 11 and Mikal Bridges added 10.
Alex Sarr scored 19 points for the Wizards, who have lost five straight. Starters Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George and reserve Corey Kispert had 15 each while Tre Johnson added 10 off the bench.
The Wizards led 30-22 after the first and took their lone double-digit lead when Johnson drained a 17-footer 20 seconds into the second. The Knicks tied the score three times before mounting a 10-0 run to take a 48-40 lead on Clarkson’s 3-pointer with 2:57 left.
Washington responded with a 14-2 run in which Coulibaly scored eight points, but Anunoby hit a 3-pointer and Towns ended the half with a four-point play to put the Knicks ahead 57-54.
The Knicks gradually pulled away in the third, when seven players scored. New York took its first double-digit lead at 68-58 when Shamet sank three free throws with 8:24 left and went ahead 85-65 on Clarkson’s layup four minutes later. Hart’s 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining gave the hosts their biggest lead at 94-67.
The Wizards mounted a late 11-0 run to get within 12 before the Knicks scored the final five points.
