Knicks rout tanking Wizards as winning streak hits six

This was finally what a contender against a tanker is supposed to look like.

For almost two weeks, the Knicks had been playing down to their opposition, repeatedly squeaking by NBA bottom-feeders.

But this was appropriately a laugher that was comfortable pretty much the whole way.

This firmly matched the two teams’ places in the standings, as the Knicks blew out the Wizards 145-113 on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

It extended the Knicks win streak to six.

It marked their seventh of eight straight games against teams under .500.

Five of those games — including Sunday’s clash — came against teams in the bottom three of their conference.

The Wizards entered Sunday being outscored by an average of 11.3 points per game, the worst mark in the league. Sunday was their 16th straight loss.

And they didn’t even have Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in 2024 and the only legitimate talent suiting up for the Wizards these days.

There was no slow start for the Knicks, contrary to the recent recurring theme.

They jumped out to a 10-point lead by 5:05 left in the first quarter.

A brief lull in the beginning of the second quarter allowed the Wizards to tie the game, but the Knicks responded with a 16-2 run to take a 14-point lead.

By just over a minute into the third quarter, the Knicks led by 20. By the start of the fourth quarter, the lead was up to 24 points.

They were incredibly efficient — the Knicks shot 58.5 percent from the field and 53.1 percent from 3-point range as the no-name Wizards offered almost no resistance on the defensive end.

It only took the Knicks three quarters to surpass 100 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson paced the scoring with 26 and 23 points.

Brunson had 12 in the first quarter to ensure the Knicks came out of the gate better than they had recently.

Towns added 16 rebounds as well.

Brunson did not have to play at all in the fourth quarter.

Towns was able to check out by 8:15 left.

Mikal Bridges, with Landry Shamet (knee soreness) out and not there to steal any of his playing time, finished with 14 points — his most since he scored 15 on March 4.

Josh Hart, after missing Friday’s win over the Nets with runner’s knee, recorded 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.

There was not a big need for much from the bench until garbage time, though Mitchell Robinson did add 10 points — on perfect 5-for-5 shooting from the field — along with 10 rebounds.

OG Anunoby was the only starter who didn’t reach double figures.

The Knicks have one more game against lowly opposition in this stretch, though the Pelicans are a bit better than the Wizards, Nets, Pacers or G-League Warriors.

Then comes the hard part, when they hit the road and face a surging team in the Hornets, the defending champion Thunder and the tough Rockets.

Sunday’s cakewalk should have been the norm during this stretch, but too often — for a supposed contender — they had to sweat out wins.

There was no stress this time around, however.

This is how it’s supposed to look.