Karl-Anthony Towns powered the New York Knicks to their ninth consecutive victory on Wednesday, delivering 31 points and 21 rebounds in a commanding 119-103 win over the Utah Jazz.
Josh Hart notched his second straight triple-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Mikal Bridges added 27 points to help the Knicks overcome the absence of Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised the team’s resilience, stating, “You need everybody over the course of a season. When you prioritize winning, good things happen.”
Despite 25 points each from Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, the Jazz suffered their fifth straight loss.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons secured a 105-95 victory over the Orlando Magic but saw guard Jaden Ivey stretchered off in the fourth quarter after a collision with Cole Anthony.
Ivey, who led Detroit with 22 points, suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury. Teammate Tobias Harris said, “It’s devastating for the whole group. We’re just coming together in prayer for him.”
Cade Cunningham added 19 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists as Detroit never trailed in the game.
The Toronto Raptors snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 130-113 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets, buoyed by Immanuel Quickley’s return after missing 22 games.
Quickley tallied 21 points and 15 assists, while Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 33 points and 13 rebounds.
Cameron Johnson scored 24 points for Brooklyn, and newcomer D’Angelo Russell contributed 22 off the bench.
Elsewhere, Jordan Poole’s return from injury fueled the Washington Wizards’ 125-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Poole scored 30 points and sank six three-pointers, while Justin Champagnie added 15 points as seven Wizards reached double figures.
Chicago’s Zach LaVine led all scorers with 32 points, but 20 turnovers proved costly for the Bulls.
In Miami, Tyler Herro’s 32 points and Bam Adebayo’s near triple-double propelled the Heat to a 119-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 34 points, but the team played under a cloud of grief following a deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans earlier in the day.
The tragedy, which left at least 15 dead, cast a somber shadow over the Pelicans’ performance.
