Knicks blow big lead in OT win vs. 76ers without Karl-Anthony Towns

On By Littum

PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks were missing their CAT, while the 76ers were without a much larger part of their litter.

With Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined with a sprained right thumb — and, as The Post first reported, a bone chip in the same digit as well — the Knicks blew a 16-point first-half lead before narrowly pulling out a 125-119 overtime victory Wednesday night over the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Jalen Brunson scored eight of his game-high 38 points in the extra session, while Villanova alum Mikal Bridges contributed 23 as the Knicks improved to 27-15 ahead of Friday’s home game against Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and the Timberwolves at the Garden.

Jalen Brunson, who scored a game-high 38 points, shoots a jumper during the first quarter of the Knicks’ 125-119 overtime win over the 76ers on Jan. 15, 2025. Bill Streicher-Imagn pictures

Josh Hart also recorded his fifth triple-double of the season with 10 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals for the Knicks.

Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond were among the regular rotation players sidelined for Philly (15-23), although Tyrese Maxey (33 points) and Paul George (26) returned after sitting out the previous night’s loss to Thunder.

The Knicks connected on 10 of 19 from long range (52.9 percent) and led by as many as 16 in the first half before taking a 60-47 lead into halftime. Reserve guards Miles McBride and Cam Payne each added two treys in the first two quarters.

Hart fed fill-in starter Jericho Sims (eight points) for a dunk early in the third, but a transition bucket by Maxey pulled the Sixers within nine. A Maxey 3-pointer shaved the Knicks’ cushion to six midway through the quarter, but OG Anunoby answered with a triple and Bridges added a driving layup to push the lead back to double digits.

Sims flushed out another jam with just under two minutes remaining, but three consecutive buckets by George closed the gap to one. A Brunson scoop put the Knicks up by three, but Jeff Dowtin Jr. tapped in with a 3-pointer for an 85-85 knot entering the final period.

The game was still tied with nine minutes left, but the Knicks scored the next seven, including a friendly jumper on a corner 3 by McBride for a 96-89 edge.

Miles McBride of the Knicks reacts in front of Adem Bona during the first half of the Knicks’ win over the 76ers. Getty Images
Landry Shamet (left) and Karl-Anthony Towns watch from the bench during the Knicks’ win over the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images

After Justin Edwards’ mid-range jumper and 3-point blast cut it to two, McBride rebounded for a pickpocket, leading to close buckets by Hart and Brunson for a 100-94 game at the 5-minute mark.

Long-range baskets by Maxey and Edwards tied things up again, but Hart stripped Kelly Oubre and floated in a dunk to generate roars from the Knicks fans in attendance.

Precious Achiuwa then denied Maxey at the rim and Anunoby drilled a triple from the right corner to make it 107-102 with 1:26 left.

Mikal Bridges celebrates after hitting a shot in the Knicks’ win over
The 76s. NBAE via Getty Images

Brunson sank a runner from the right side after a Maxey three-point play, but he coughed up the ball with seven seconds left and Anunoby was called for goaltending against Maxey for another tie with 3.2 left in regulation.

Anunoby missed an 18-footer at the buzzer in the fourth quarter, but he drove baseline for a two-handed jam to start an 8-0 run to open overtime. Brunson also sank a 3-pointer and added five free throws to loud shouts of “MVP” for a 119-111 game.