Hart, Towns first Knicks to record triple-double in same game
NEW YORK — Wing Josh Hart and center Karl-Anthony Towns each logged triple-doubles in a 128-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, marking the first time in New York Knicks history that two teammates accomplished that feat in the same game.
For Hart, it was his ninth triple-double of the season, also a Knicks record. He had previously shared it with Hall of Famer Clyde Frazier (1968-69).
“I didn’t envision this. This is more than I ever dreamed of,” Hart said, adding he always hoped to make it to the NBA but figured he’d more likely end up with a talk-show role that involved the sport as opposed to becoming a player. “The Lord opens doors that we don’t even know are possible.”
Prior to last season, Hart, an eighth-year player, never had logged a triple-double in his NBA career.
It marked the 17th time in NBA history that two teammates have had a triple-double in the same game. Hart recalled admiring then-Los Angeles Lakers teammates LeBron James and Lonzo Ball each recording one in 2018.
Hart and Towns were unselfish out of the gate Tuesday, assisting on each of the Knicks’ first six baskets. Together, they repeatedly torched a depleted Dallas club, which was playing without Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, among others. The Dallas bigs, playing up too high on defense, surrendered backdoor cut after backdoor cut.
As a team, the Knicks – playing again without injured All-Star Jalen Brunson, who possesses the ball for a league-high 8.7 minutes per game — finished with 40 assists on 53 makes.
Hart finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, earning his triple-double late in the third quarter. Towns finished with 26 points, 12 boards and 11 dimes, securing his midway through the fourth.
“[Hart’s] got nine this season; I’ve got one. He’s doing a much better job of getting triple-doubles,” said Towns, who’s accomplished the feat three times in his NBA career. “But the way he does it is special. It’s always with effort and for the betterment of the team. I’m just happy there’s a way to see on the stat sheet the impact he’s having on the game. He sacrifices so much for the team, so I’m happy that he can have this moment.”
Source: espn.com