Surging Knicks Go To Towns

In Brunson's absence, big man scores 31 points to keep Jazz flat

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Josh Hart said the New York Knicks showed how far they have progressed since last season, as he delivered his second straight triple-double and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points in a 119-103 triumph over the Utah Jazz on Jan 1, their ninth straight National Basketball Association (NBA) win.

With leading scorer Jalen Brunson sidelined with tightness in his right calf and Miles McBride also absent, Towns and Hart picked up the slack.

Hart did not score until the final seconds of the first half, yet still finished with a triple-double.

He said: "We have great depth. We've got guys that can score the ball. It just shows the difference between last year and this year.

"Last year, (with Brunson) out, I'm not sure how that would have gone. But with him out, we still got the depth of KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns), 'Kal (Mikal Bridges), OG (Anunoby) and those guys are very good at scoring the ball."

Towns added 21 rebounds and Hart scored 15 points with 14 rebounds and 12 assists, Bridges chipped in with 27 points.