Jalen Brunson, Jose Alvarado, and the New York Knicks saved the best for last in a shocking triumph over the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden.
A fantastic fourth quarter granted the Knicks their first win of the post-NBA All-Star slate, as New York stole a 109-106 decision in front of an uproarious sellout crowd. Brunson overcame early shooting struggles to hit the go-ahead tallies with 29.5 seconds remaining, part of a perfect period for the reigning Clutch Player of the Year.
Burdened by familiar mastery from Kevin Durant and a strong defensive efforts from Amen Thompson, the Knicks (36-21) trailed by 18 in the early stages of the fourth quarter. New York ended the game on a 34-13 run over the final 10-plus minutes, punctuated by Brunson’s perfect 4-of-4 period on a night where he where sank but two over the first three quarters.
Houston seemed destined to break away for a win in Durant’s first showing on MSG hardwood since April 2022: it required only the second half of the second period to to erase a double-figure Knicks lead, as the Rockets went on a 21-9 run over the final 5:48.
Alperen Sengun sank all four of his tries in the period, which created a one-point halftime lead despite early success from OG Anunoby (16 points on 7-of-9 in the first 24). Brunson was held without a field goal in a half for just the second time this season with Thompson drawing the top defensive duty, leaving Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns (11 points en route to a Knicks-best 25) to pick up the offensive slack.
Brunson finally mustered some offensive momentum with 10 points in the third (most of that earned at the foul line) but Durant broke loose from some early shooting struggles to help Houston grow its lead. The final frame would begin with Brunson on the bench as the Knicks sought to avoid their fourth loss over the last six games.
His replacement Alvarado, dressing for just his fifth Knicks game, started to pave the comeback trail with a feisty efforts on both sides of the ball: he had assists on each of the first three Knicks shots of the fourth (Landry Shamet triples sandwiched a drive double from Towns) before blanketing the Houston backcourt that struggled to keep its advantage.
After failing to force a turnover in the third quarter, the Knicks took away nine in the last dozen minutes, including several physical offensive charges that helped Brunson add to his league-leading total. Once Brunson got back in—and picked himself up—the Knicks’ comeback began in earnest with Alvarado by his side after he was placed back in for Mikal Bridges with just over five minutes left.
With newly-minted New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh watching, consecutive takeaways for Alvarado gave way to a pair of dramatic doubles, one he took in himself before Brunson put up the equalizer. Brunson capped off his heroics in familiar fashion, taking a charge from Durant on a potential go-ahead possession before hitting his own fateful fling that gave the Knicks a permanent lead.
Durant led all scorers with 30 points in defeat but missed a tying shot on the next immediate possession. Jabari Smith Jr. missed a three that was eventually caught by Towns, allowing Anunoby to sink free throws that created a two-possession lead for the Knicks. It wound up be a costly loss for the Rockets (34-21), who lost tenured contributor Jae’Sean Tate to a right ankle sprain during the first half.
New York makes the return trip to Houston to wrap this interconference couple on March 31. The Knicks close out the weekend with a Sunday night date in the Windy City, where they’ll face the reeling Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET, MSG)
