Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart make triple-double history as Knicks pummel Mavericks
Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart can claim something unique as Knicks teammates. In dispatching the shorthanded Mavericks 128-113 on Tuesday, they became the first duo in franchise history to record triple-doubles in the same game. And they did it with plenty of time to spare. Towns wrapped up his triple-double with an assist early in the fourth quarter, finishing his stat-stuffing evening with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.Hart was done with a rebound in the third quarter — finishing with 16 points, 12 boards and 11 assists — as the Knicks pummeled the Mavericks with offense. OG Anunoby’s exquisite performance — 35 points, 15-for-24 shooting — was overshadowed by the triple-doubles. And Hart’s was historic by itself.
It represented his ninth triple-double of the season, eclipsing Clyde Frazier’s 56-year-old franchise record. Frazier, the player most synonymous with the Knicks, coincidentally celebrates his 80th birthday Saturday, with a celebration planned by MSG Networks for the broadcast that night against the Blazers. Towns had only twice previously recorded a triple-double, both with the Timberwolves, the most recent occurring in 2022. Although a double triple-double was a first in New York, it’s not so rare throughout the NBA.In fact, Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook did it for the Nuggets this season. The Mavericks (35-38) were easy to pad the stats against.They entered MSG as a shell of a team, with only nine active players.
Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving were on the bench and wearing street clothes. Luka Doncic is with the Lakers. The Knicks (45-26) were also banged up without Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson. But Tuesday still should’ve been an easy victory.They had two days off after a home game Saturday against the awful Wizards, while the Mavericks were operating on the second night of a back-to-back following Monday’s win in Brooklyn. Davis played at Barclays Center, then sat at MSG. Stil...