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Towns, Brunson carry the Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Hornets

Pat Pickens

Towns, Brunson carry the Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Hornets | iNFOnews.ca
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) pushes toward the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 35 points, 18 rebounds and five assists, Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and the New York Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets 119-104 on Wednesday night.

Mikal Bridges had 16 points, Deuce McBride scored 15 and Josh Hart had 15 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. New York (14-7) improved to 11-1 at Madison Square Garden this season.

LaMelo Ball had 34 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Tidjane Salaun and Kon Knueppel each had 13 points. Charlotte (6-16) fell to 1-10 on the road and dropped its ninth straight away from home.

Playing for the second night in a row and without center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) did not seem to affect the Knicks, mainly thanks to Towns. The All-Star shot 13 for 23 from the field and nearly earned his 16th double-double of the season in the first half. He had 19 points and nine rebounds at the break.

After a slow start shooting, Brunson closed the first half with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. The Knicks captain scored 18 points over the final 24 minutes, including his 3 to close the first half.

Keyed by Brunson, New York outscored Charlotte 42-24 over a 13-plus-minute span in the second half.

The Knicks never trailed and surrendered just 12 first-quarter points, their fewest in any quarter this season. They built a 41-21 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Hornets outscored the Knicks 26-9 over a 7:45 span of the second quarter, which cut New York’s lead to three. But Brunson’s 3-pointer put New York ahead 53-47 at the break.

Up next

Hornets: At Toronto on Friday.

Knicks: Host Utah on Friday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Towns, Brunson carry the Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Hornets | iNFOnews.ca
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1), defended by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11), charges toward the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Towns, Brunson carry the Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Hornets | iNFOnews.ca
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) falls and grabs his ankle during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Towns, Brunson carry the Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Hornets | iNFOnews.ca
Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) catches a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

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The Associated Press

Pat Pickens

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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