Towns sparks Knicks in 18-point comeback in fourth quarter against Rockets
NEW YORK — The initial 36 minutes for the Knicks on Saturday evening mirrored their previous 48 minutes on Thursday — uninspired, aimless, and disoriented.
However, a shift occurred for the Knicks in the fourth quarter, reminiscent of the grit and determination they displayed last season, enabling them to rally from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-106 at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks outscored the Rockets 33-15 in the final quarter, with Karl-Anthony Towns contributing seven of his team-leading 27 points and Jalen Brunson recovering from a poor start to make all four of his field goals, including the decisive shot, finishing with 20 points and seven assists.
Knicks coach Mike Brown noted that the often-criticized Towns motivated his teammates during the huddle after the third quarter. At that moment, boos echoed throughout the arena as the Rockets took command.
“I drew up a play and was discussing offense, and then KAT said, ‘At the end of the day, it starts defensively. We gotta get a stop,'” Brown stated. “He spearheaded the effort on that end of the court.”
Towns initiated the quarter by forcing Alperen Sengun into a poor shot, and shortly thereafter, the Knicks’ offense began to find its rhythm.
“I said we could win this game, I’ve seen us do it,” Towns remarked. “I wanted to contribute by getting that stop, and from there on, I aimed to set the tone for our team and the intensity level we needed to maintain for 12 minutes to secure a victory.”
Prior to the game, Brown clarified the hierarchy: Brunson first, followed by Towns, then the rest. This was the first instance he had been so explicit, particularly since Towns had previously expressed discomfort with the offense throughout the season.
Towns’ shooting percentages and overall attempts have decreased from his career averages and are significantly lower than last season’s output under Tom Thibodeau.
“We’ve streamlined our offense considerably to accommodate him and everyone else simultaneously,” Brown explained.
However, with the Rockets aggressively trapping Brunson, Towns needed to step up. Brunson was scoreless, while Towns netted 11 points to keep the game within a single possession before the Rockets took control in the third.
Trade deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado was impactful in the fourth quarter, as was OG Anunoby throughout the game. Alvarado recorded his second five-steal game with the Knicks, with three of those steals occurring in the final quarter.
“We kept experimenting with combinations until we found one that worked. We brought in Jose, and he provided a spark,” Brown said. “I appreciated our players’ perseverance throughout the game, as there were numerous moments when we could have given up.”
In some respects, the Rockets were a favorable opponent. They rank 18th in clutch situations — defined by the NBA as games within five points with five minutes or less remaining — so the Knicks recognized their opportunity to execute and secure a win in the closing moments.
They limited Kevin Durant, the league’s 11th-highest scorer, to 2-for-7 shooting in the fourth quarter as the Rockets’ offense devolved into isolation plays and turnovers. However, it was the Knicks who applied the necessary pressure to reduce the deficit to a manageable six points in a rapid five-minute span, aided by their 3-point shooting.
“It’s just the same story,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka commented. “And we’ve lost too many games like this after having significant leads. It’s not just time to improvise. As I mentioned, turnovers are detrimental, but poor offense is equally harmful.”
Durant had a final opportunity at the buzzer following a long pass, but his 3-point attempt fell short and to the right.
“We gave them momentum; I think we relaxed a bit. The game felt like it was under our control,” Durant said. “I know it’s difficult to say, but it’s a crucial time for us to continue developing and improving.”
The Rockets left an opening, and the Knicks seized it with urgency. This victory alleviated the disappointment from Thursday’s lopsided loss to the East-leading Detroit Pistons and served as a necessary reset before embarking on a three-game road trip starting Sunday in Chicago.
“I remember the beating we took,” Towns said. “You never want that game to lead to more.”
Towns referred to it as a “team win.”
“You know, 48 hours ago, we didn’t perform at our best, and we came out here and demonstrated resilience, even when we weren’t at our peak,” Towns stated. “It’s a testament to this team, not only for what we exhibited tonight but also for the growth of our team and the resilience that I believe we saw a lot of last year, reemerging today.”
