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Knicks’ defense shines again in win over Sixers

Mar 12, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry (7) dribbles against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Hart tallied 20 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists while Jalen Brunson added 20 points and assists as the New York Knicks cruised to a 106-79 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

The Knicks held their opponent to fewer than 80 points for the third straight game, producing a streak of that length for the first time since 2000.

After managing just 73 points in a six-point loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, the lowest scoring output by the Knicks since 2018, New York asserted itself from opening tip in the rematch.

New York raced out to a 21-9 lead and never trailed in the wire-to-wire win.

The Knicks reached the 73-point mark on Tuesday with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter, when Hart notched his 10th assist of the game on a basket by Brunson to secure his fourth career triple-double — all of them coming in the past two month.

The Knicks had four other players score in double figures while winning for the third time in four meetings with Philadelphia this season.

OG Anunoby had 14 points and four rebounds in his first game back since sustaining an elbow injury on Jan. 27 and subsequently undergoing surgery. Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points, while Precious Achiuwa and Miles McBride each chipped in 13 points.

The Knicks shot 40 of 79 (50.6 percent) overall and 14 of 40 (35 percent) from 3-point range. After committing 21 turnovers as a team in the Sunday loss, they racked up 32 assists and just 13 turnovers as a team.

New York went on a 21-10 run throughout the closing minutes of the second quarter to take a 59-41 halftime lead.

The Knicks put the game out of reach with a 22-4 third-quarter surge topped off by an Anunoby steal-and-score, which gave New York an 83-55 lead with 3:22 remaining in the quarter. The hosts led by as much as 33 points in the fourth quarter.

The short-handed Sixers were unable to keep up on the glass and with the Knicks’ offensive barrage. New York outrebounded Philadelphia 51-31.

Kelly Oubre Jr. paced the Sixers with 19 points and six rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had 17 points and four assists in his return after missing four games due to a concussion. Paul Reed finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Philadelphia shot 30 of 80 (37.5 percent), including an 8 of 33 (24.2 percent) from beyond the arc.

–Field Level Media

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