NBA: Knicks pull away for another win over Nets

Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 15 rebounds Sunday night for the host New York Knicks, who pulled away in the second half for a 114-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Towns scored 14 points during a decisive third-quarter run to help the Knicks sweep a two-game home set against the Nets. New York earned a 124-122 win in NBA Cup action Friday.

Jalen Brunson, who hit the game-winning shot Friday, posted a double-double Sunday (12 points, 10 assists). OG Anunoby scored 24 points while Josh Hart (20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) flirted with a triple-double. Mikal Bridges added 21 points.

Cameron Johnson had 22 points for the Nets, who have lost three straight and five of six. Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Thomas had 16 points apiece while Jalen Wilson (15 points) and Noah Clowney (13 points) each got into double figures off the bench.

Both teams held six-point leads in the first quarter before the Knicks scored the final seven points to take a 30-29 lead. Wilson opened the second quarter with a pair of free throws to give the Nets their final lead before Towns' putback gave the Knicks the lead for good and sparked an 11-0 run.

The Nets inched back and got within four points twice before Wilson's 3-pointer pulled Brooklyn within 60-57 at the half.

Finney-Smith began the third quarter with a layup and Schroder's 3-pointer cut the deficit to 64-62 before New York scored the next six points to start a quarter-ending 31-19 run. The Knicks opened up a trio of 14-point leads, the last when Towns ended the quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the lead to 95-81.

The Nets got within eight points three times during a sludgy fourth quarter in which the teams shot a combined 35.9 percent (14-of-39). A pair of free throws by Ziarie Williams cut the Knicks' lead to 102-94 with 5:47 left, but New York responded with an 11-4 run and was never threatened thereafter. — Field Level Media/Reuters