Kemba Walker posts first-ever Christmas Day triple-double for Knicks in blowout vs. Hawks

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 25: Kemba Walker #8 hi-fives Alec Burks #18 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on December 25, 2021 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

The New York Knicks took down the visiting Atlanta Hawks 101-87 on Christmas Day to bounce back at home after a defeat to the Washington Wizards, thanks to the efforts of Kemba Walker and Julius Randle.

Randle led all scorers of the Knicks with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Kemba Walker finished the game with a triple-double of 10 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Walker is the second player of the franchise to follow a 40-point game with a triple-double after Carmelo Anthony did so in 2012. He is the 7th player in NBA history and the first since 2017, and also the first Knick, to post a triple-double on Christmas Day, per Knicks PR.

The Knicks faced no struggle throughout the game against short-staffed Hawks, who had eight players placed in NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Hawks saw Clint Capela return to action Saturday, although he was far from his season averages, as he finished the game with 6 points and 9 rebounds. Delon Wright and John Collins paced all scorers of the team with 220 points each.

The Hawks were lacking Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari, Onyeka Okungwu, Timothe Luwaru-Cabarrot, Sharife Cooper, and Wes Iwundu, all placed in the protocols, while they had also ruled out Cam Reddish due to an injury.

 

 

Photo: Getty Images

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