Hart’s triple-double and OG’s return help Knicks cruise past 76ers

Josh Hart had 20 points, a career-high tying 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in his fourth triple-double of the season while OG Anunoby scored 14 points in his return from an 18-game absence in the New York Knicks’ victory over the Philadelphia 76ers 106-79 earlier today.

Josh Hart put together an unreal triple-double stat line in the Knicks' win over the Sixers 🗽

20 PTS | 19 REB | 10 AST pic.twitter.com/KzrNljEGvC

— NBA (@NBA) March 13, 2024

Jalen Brunson added 20 points and nine assists for the Knicks, who finally got one of their injured starters back and looked nothing like the team that was held to an NBA season-low 73 points in a loss to the 76ers on Sunday.

Anunoby hadn’t played since Jan. 27 because of a right elbow injury that required surgery. New York is still playing without All-Star Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson because of injuries, but has held its opponent below 80 points in three straight games for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

INSTANT IMPACT 💪

OG Anunoby - 14 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL pic.twitter.com/vw6E2y8OqU

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 13, 2024

The Knicks improved to 13-2 in games that Anunoby has played in after acquiring him from Toronto in a Dec. 30 trade.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points and Tyrese Maxey had 17 who missed the previous four games because of a concussion. Paul Reed finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

The 76ers beat the Knicks 79-73 on Sunday in a game that had the lowest-combined score in the NBA this season.

This time, the Knicks shot 50.6% from the field and 35% from long distance after shooting 32.5% from the field and 22.5% from 3-point range.

Philadelphia, still without NBA scoring leader Joel Embiid, continued to struggle offensively. New York had an 18-point lead to start the third quarter before the Sixers went on a 9-2 spurt and made it 61-51 on Maxey’s 3-pointer that forced a Knicks timeout with 8:33 left in the quarter.

The Knicks answered with a 15-2 run capped by Donte DiVincenzo’s 3 with 4:34 remaining in the period to extend the lead 79-53. Philadelphia shot just 1-for-6 and turned the ball over twice during that stretch.

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.

New York remains strong as the third seed of the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-27, while the 76ers (36-29) slide down to number seven of the same conference.