Jalen Brunson scores season-high 55 points in Knicks' 136-132 overtime win vs Wizards

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored nine of his season-high 55 points in overtime and Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks extended their season-long winning streak to seven games in a 136-132 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

It was the first overtime game for both teams, and New York outscored Washington 17-13 in the extra period.

Brunson, who scored 42 points after halftime, had two jump shots and hit five free throws in overtime.

Justin Champagnie scored a career-high 31 points with 10 rebounds and Malcolm Brogdon added 22 as the Wizards failed to win their second straight game after beating the Hornets 113-110 on Thursday.

Playing without leading scorer Jordan Poole, who was out with a bruised left hip, Washington led for most of the game but committed 17 turnovers, which resulted in 26 New York points.

Knicks: Brunson had a superb performance in the second half and especially in overtime. He hit 16 of his 17 free throws and had nine assists.

Wizards: The Wizards are playing the best ball in a difficult season. Despite their loss, they were competitive against one of the NBA’s better teams.

Brunson converted a three-point play with 57 seconds left and made a floater with 11.1 seconds left to tie the game at 119 and force overtime.

The Wizards shot 44.7% from 3 compared to the Knicks' 25% shooting from deep, but Washington wasn't able to stop Brunson in the second half.

The Knicks are at the Wizards again on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) has his shot blocked by Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) dunks the ball as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns trails during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) passes the ball as Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards guard Carlton Carrington (8) shoots the ball as New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards head coach Brian Keefe reacts to a foul called against his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) competes for the ball against Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie, back left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) shoots the ball over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson handles the ball against Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, center right, looks to shoot a jump shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes to the basket for a dunk over Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks guard Miles McBride, front left, attempts a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson gestures after making a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury’s finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award that the Manhattan jury granted to E. Jean Carroll for defamation and sexual abuse.

The longtime magazine columnist had testified at a 2023 trial that Trump turned a friendly encounter in spring 1996 into a violent attack after they playfully entered the store’s dressing room.

Trump skipped the trial after repeatedly denying the attack ever happened. But he briefly testified at a follow-up defamation trial earlier this year that resulted in an $83.3 million award. The second trial resulted from comments then-President Trump made in 2019 after Carroll first made the accusations publicly in a memoir.

In its ruling, a three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected claims by Trump's lawyers that trial Judge Lewis A. Kaplan had made multiple decisions that spoiled the trial, including his decision to allow two other women who had accused Trump of sexually abusing them to testify.

The judge also had allowed the jury to view the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump boasted in 2005 about grabbing women’s genitals because when someone is a star, “you can do anything.”

“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings," the 2nd Circuit said. “Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial.”

In September, both Carroll, 81, and Trump, 78, attended oral arguments by the 2nd Circuit.

Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson, said in a statement that Trump was elected by voters who delivered "an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed.”

Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer who represented Carroll during the trial and is not related to the judge, said in a statement: “Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”

The first jury found in May 2023 that Trump sexually abused Carroll and defamed her with comments he made in October 2022. That jury awarded Carroll $5 million.

In January, a second jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages for comments Trump had made about her while he was president, finding that they were defamatory. That jury had been instructed by the judge to accept the first jury’s finding that Trump had sexually abused Carroll.

Trump testified for under three minutes at the second trial and was not permitted to challenge conclusions reached by the May 2023 jury. Still, he was animated in the courtroom throughout the two-week trial, and jurors could hear him grumbling about the case.

FILE - E. Jean Carroll exits the New York Federal Court after former President Donald Trump appeared in court, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)