Knicks snap four-game losing streak behind more balanced attack vs. Clippers

The shot distribution was better for the Knicks, as was the result.

The Knicks rode a much more balanced offensive attack to a 123-111 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night to end a season-long four-game losing streak.

Six different Knicks scored in double figures — including all five starters — in a stark contrast to Monday night’s 121-90 loss at Detroit.

“We played a little desperate tonight,” point guard Jalen Brunson said. “We needed a win, and I think the way we competed, the way we played…that was Knicks basketball.”

Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting and seven assists.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting with 11 rebounds and a season-high seven assists.

Towns overcame a slow start to score 10 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Knicks pull ahead in what had been a closely contested game up to that point.

And OG Anunoby added 20 points while shooting a super efficient 8 out of 10.

It was a far cry from Monday night’s loss to the Pistons, when Towns and Anunoby took just four shots each and Brunson attempted more than twice as many (21) as anyone else.

With the victory, the Knicks (24-13) avoided their worst losing streak since December 2022, when they lost five in a row.

“I applaud our guys, because we faced some adversity,” said head coach Mike Brown.

“One of our standards is, ‘Hey, let’s stay connected. “It’s up to me, KAT and Jalen to keep the group elevated and connected, along with everyone else in this locker room, and the guys have done a heck of a job.

The Knicks used better ball movement from the opening tip.

This was demonstrated by the fact that Brunson didn’t take his first shot until 6:23 of the first quarter. His driving layup was the Knicks’ 11th shot attempt, and every other starter had made at least two at that point.

Brown’s decision to insert guard Miles “Deuce” McBride into the starting lineup and move center Mitchell Robinson to the bench also demonstrated the Knicks’ urgency on Wednesday.

McBride rewarded the Knicks with 16 points, including a trio of 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the second quarter.

But Los Angeles led 56-51 at halftime, thanks in large part to Kawhi Leonard’s 21 points at the break.

Towns, meanwhile, managed just six points on 2-of-8 shooting in the first half as he struggled to get going against Clippers 7-footer Ivica Zubac.

But Towns continued to attack Zubac in the third quarter, and he eventually drew a few fouls against the big man. This included a three-point play that tied the game, 70-70.

Brunson took over, scoring 11 of the Knicks’ 39 points in the third quarter.

“They had two on me for the majority of the game,” Brunson said. “So I just tried to attack him and tried to get out of there quickly to see if we could get the advantage, four on three, and towards the end of the match I got away a little bit.”

The Knicks went up 88-87 on a Jordan Clarkson three-point play with less than a minute left in the third quarter, and they led 90-87 heading into the fourth.

Towns then broke out to start the final quarter, scoring nine points in the first 4:06 of the fourth as the Knicks went up by double digits.

“I made a few shots. I didn’t make a lot of them, but I think tonight just shows aggressiveness wins,” Towns said. “I wasn’t letting up because some shots weren’t going in. … I just stayed really aggressive, every opportunity I had, and in the end it worked out for our team.”

Mikal Bridges scored 15 points, while Clarkson added 12 coming off the bench. Guerschon Yabusele gave the Knicks eight points in 13 minutes.

All five starters attempted at least 10 shots, and none took more than 18. The Knicks had 31 assists and shot 47 of 94 (50%) as a team.

Leonard finished with 25 points after scoring just four in the second half.

Next up for the Knicks is a four-game road trip, which begins Friday night in Phoenix.

“I don’t think we were at our best today, but we did enough to win,” Towns said, adding, “It’s a good start before we go on the road trip to stop the bleeding with four straight losses and finally get one in the left column.”