Rockets Vs Knicks: Towns and Brunson Rally New York to 108-106 Comeback at Madison Square Garden
The Knicks pulled off a dramatic comeback in the Rockets Vs Knicks matchup, overcoming an 18‑point fourth‑quarter hole to beat Houston 108‑106 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The victory matters because it reversed a funk that had followed a blowout loss on Thursday and provided a much‑needed boost coming out of the All‑Star break.
Karl‑Anthony Towns ignites 33‑15 fourth‑quarter run
The Knicks outscored the Rockets 33‑15 in the final period after entering the fourth trailing by 18. Karl‑Anthony Towns began the rally defensively by forcing Alperen Sengun into a poor shot and then poured in points as New York surged. One account credits Towns with seven fourth‑quarter points and lists him as the team high with 27 for the night; another records him with seven in the fourth and a game high of 25 — that discrepancy is unclear in the provided context. Towns also confronted his teammates in the huddle after the third quarter, urging defensive intensity for the final 12 minutes.
Jalen Brunson’s late plays decide Rockets Vs Knicks clash
Jalen Brunson, who had struggled for much of the night, delivered the decisive sequence down the stretch. He drilled a jumper to pull New York within four with 4: 40 remaining, drew a charge on Amen Thompson two possessions later to regain possession, and hit another jumper to bring the Knicks within two. With 1: 14 left Brunson tied the game with a layup, then drew a charge on Kevin Durant. After crossing up Tari Eason, Brunson hit a 15‑footer with 21. 2 seconds left that proved to be the go‑ahead bucket. Brunson finished with 20 points and seven assists, and went 4‑for‑4 from the field in the fourth after a cold start in the first half.
Jose Alvarado’s defense and nine fourth‑quarter turnovers
Trade‑deadline addition Jose Alvarado provided a disruptive defensive spark. He registered five steals for the game — his second five‑steal effort with the Knicks — and had three of those thefts in the fourth quarter. New York forced nine Rockets turnovers in the final period while committing just one, a swing that directly fueled the 33‑15 run and flipped an 18‑point deficit into a two‑point victory.
Kevin Durant’s fourth‑quarter struggles and final shot
Kevin Durant entered the fourth with 25 points but managed only five more in the period, shooting 2‑for‑7 in the fourth. The Rockets’ offense devolved into isolations and turnovers late, and Durant’s last‑second 3‑point attempt — coming after a 50‑foot pass — fell short and to the right. Houston’s broader late‑game profile is reflected in its standing in clutch situations: 18th in the NBA in games defined as within five points with five minutes or less, a vulnerability the Knicks exploited.
Mike Brown’s lineup choices, OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet
Coach Mike Brown said he had set a clear pecking order before the game — Jalen Brunson first, then Karl‑Anthony Towns, then everyone else — and that he’s simplified the offense to fit Towns and the roster. Brown credited Towns for calling for a defensive stop before the fourth and praised the team’s perseverance. OG Anunoby paced the Knicks with 16 in the first half but managed just four in the second; he nonetheless hit both free throws with 5. 4 seconds remaining to help seal the result. Landry Shamet added 14 points off the bench and logged key minutes late in place of Mikal Bridges, a substitution pattern that has recurred under Brown.
What makes this notable is how a combination of intensified perimeter defense, timely three‑point shooting and multiple charged offensive fouls by Brunson reversed a game that looked lost. The comeback—New York’s largest of the season—also served as an immediate corrective to a disheartening showing against the Pistons on Thursday and offered momentum as the club returns from the All‑Star break.
Pre‑game context had the Knicks listed at 35‑21 and the Rockets at 34‑20; the matchup had been scheduled for tip‑off at 8: 30 p. m. ET on ABC. Rockets coach Ime Udoka lamented the team’s tendency to lose big leads late and singled out turnovers and bad offense as central problems. In the end, New York’s late‑game defense and Brunson’s decisive plays produced the 108‑106 final score at Madison Square Garden.
