Rockets Vs Knicks: Brunson’s late heroics deliver 108-106 comeback at Madison Square Garden
Jalen Brunson erased a near-certain defeat to lead the Knicks to a 108-106 victory over the Rockets on Saturday night, completing the franchise’s largest comeback of the season. The turning point in the rockets vs knicks matchup arrived in the fourth quarter after New York trailed by 18 and boos began to ripple through Madison Square Garden.
Brunson’s fourth-quarter sequence
The All-Star point guard, who had struggled for much of the night, sparked the rally with a jumper that cut the deficit to four with 4: 40 remaining. Brunson then forced a momentum swing by drawing a charge on Amen Thompson two possessions later, regained possession again with another jumper that brought New York within two, and tied the game 103-103 with a layup at the 1: 14 mark. He later drew a second charge — this one on Kevin Durant — and crossed up Tari Eason before sinking a 15-footer to give the Knicks a two-point lead with 21. 2 seconds left. That sequence proved decisive in the 108-106 finish.
Rockets Vs Knicks — Defensive swing and fourth-quarter turnovers
Defense drove the comeback. New York forced nine turnovers by the Rockets in the fourth quarter while committing just one of its own, and Jose Alvarado contributed five points and three steals during that stretch. Those defensive stands and takeaways translated directly into scoring opportunities down the stretch and undercut Houston’s ability to close out the game.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ response after Pistons blowout
Karl-Anthony Towns, whose role in the offense had been a focal point following the Knicks’ blowout loss to the Pistons on Thursday, pushed the comeback with seven points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 25 points. Coach Mike Brown credited Towns with challenging teammates about their defense before the fourth, and Towns said he wanted to set the tone and the necessary intensity for the final 12 minutes.
Bench impact and late-game decisions
OG Anunoby, who led the team with 16 in the first half, managed only four points in the second half but calmly sank both free throws with 5. 4 seconds remaining to seal the win. Landry Shamet supplied 14 points off the bench and logged important minutes down the stretch, a deployment that again came at the expense of Mikal Bridges — a rotation choice Coach Brown has repeatedly made in late-game situations.
Brunson’s night-long struggle and in-game adjustments
Brunson did not make a field goal until 4: 21 remained in the third quarter after missing his first five attempts, and he had only two points at halftime from free throws. He finished the night by scoring eight points in the fourth quarter and going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field during that period. Brunson said he didn’t like how he had been playing early, decided to change his approach and focused on attacking downhill and making aggressive plays rather than being passive.
Kevin Durant’s late dip and final details
Kenneth Durant entered the fourth quarter with 25 points but managed only five more in the final period, shooting 2-for-7 after halftime. Three of those late points came on a 3-pointer following Anunoby’s free throws. Coach Mike Brown praised Brunson’s ability to find ways to score in crunch time, noting that he was "in a groove" and that it didn’t matter who was defending him.
What makes this notable is how a single player's shift from passive to aggressive — combined with a defensive surge that produced nine fourth-quarter turnovers — flipped an 18-point deficit into the Knicks’ largest comeback of the season and a 108-106 triumph in front of the MSG crowd.
