Knicks survive blowing big lead in OT win over 76ers without injured Karl-Anthony Towns
NY Post
PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks were missing their KAT, while the 76ers were without a much larger portion of their litter.
With Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined with a sprained right thumb — and as The Post first reported, also a bone chip in the same digit — the Knicks flushed a 16-point first-half lead before barely pulling out a 125-119 overtime win Wednesday night over the Sixers at Wells Fargo Center.
Everyone had their moments in this one, but Jalen Brunson overcame a key turnover late in regulation to score eight of his game-high 38 points in the extra session.
“That’s on me. That’s just careless and I got to know my surroundings and not put my team in that position. But I’m happy we stayed together … and came out with the win,” Brunson said. “That’s a position we should not have been in. But we turned the page and were ready to go.”
Fellow Villanova alum Mikal Bridges contributed 23 points as the Knicks improved to 27-15 ahead of Friday’s home clash against Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and the Timberwolves at the Garden.
An incredibly active Josh Hart also registered his fifth triple-double of the season with 10 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals for the Knicks.
We might as well start talking about this now. As early as next Tuesday, it’s at least possible that Carlos Beltran will earn the 75 percent of the vote necessary to gain entrance to the Hall of Fame. And when that happens — if not now, then some year soon — it’s going to be a most interesting thing to watch how Mets fans react.