Knicks fall behind Rockets early, cannot recover
The Knicks' Jalen Brunson passes the ball as the Rockets' Amen Thompson defends during the first quarter on Tuesday in Houston, Texas. Credit: Getty Images/Jack Gorman
HOUSTON — Kevin Durant had 27 points and the Houston Rockets took a huge lead early and rolled to a 111-94 win over the Knicks on Tuesday night. It’s a third straight win for the Rockets after they’d dropped two in a row. The victory comes after the Knicks got a 108-106 win at Madison Square Garden in the first meeting this season in February.
The Rockets never trailed and led by double digits for most of the game after scoring 37 points in the first quarter. They were up 20 entering the fourth quarter and were leading by 19 with about two minutes to go when both teams cleared their benches.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Knicks, who lost a third consecutive game after winning their previous seven. Each of their three losses have been by double digits.
Tari Eason had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Rockets. All of Houston’s starters finished with at least 13 points. Reed Sheppard had 20 points off the bench and five boards.
The Knicks got within 12 points on a three-pointer by Jalen Brunson with about three minutes left in the third quarter. But the Rockets scored the next seven points, with the help of two turnovers by the Knicks, to push the lead to 87-68 with about 90 seconds remaining in the quarter. Durant and Eason powered Houston’s big first quarter with the duo combining for 23 points with four three-pointers in the frame.
