Knicks' Jalen Brunson scores 42 points, leads fourth-quarter rally to beat Rockets

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson gestures after scoring a three-point basket late in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Knicks’ mantra of next man up was put to the test Monday night as they took the court without OG Anunoby for the first time this season. The next man up is not the defensive force that Anunoby is, so for this night, it had to be everyone stepping up.
Precious Achiuwa moved into the starting spot vacated by Anunoby, who suffered a right foot sprain Saturday night. The four remaining starters picked up the slack, spurring a 46-point fourth quarter as the Knicks escaped with a 124-118 win over the Houston Rockets at the Garden.
The Knicks (33-17) have relied so much on their starting five, and it was the starting four that carried the day offensively.
Jalen Brunson had 42 points, 10 assists and six rebounds to lead the way. Brunson, who had 29 points in the second half, scored 17 of the Knicks’ final 26 points in the last 5:53 and 11 of their final 13 points in the last 1:59.
Mikal Bridges scored 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns also had 22 points before fouling out with 54 seconds left and Josh Hart contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The Knicks trailed by 12 in the second quarter and by 11 early in the fourth quarter. They began to chip away, and then Brunson took over.
“I think it was like 106-100 at one point they were up, and we felt good,” Hart said. “We get two stops, this is our game. He’s one of those guys where if the game’s close, one-possession game or tie game, or if you’re up a possession, you’re fully confident with the ball in his hand. He’s going to make the right play, whether that’s a shot, get to the line or he’s going to be unselfish and set his teammate up.”
Aaron Holiday’s three-pointer with 5:33 left gave the Rockets (32-17) that 106-100 lead. After a pair of free throws by Brunson, the Rockets missed two shots and there was a wild scramble for the loose ball. Towns eventually came up with it and found Brunson near midcourt, starting a three-on-one break. Brunson passed to Hart streaking to the rim and the Rockets’ lead was down to 106-104 with 4:42 to play.
With the Knicks down four, Brunson delivered a driving floater and drew a charge on Jalen Green. Towns then bullied his way to the rim, drew a fifth foul on Dillon Brooks as the baseline shot fell through the net and converted the free throw to give the Knicks a 109-108 lead with 3:38 left.
Brunson delivered a driving layup with 1:59 remaining to give the Knicks a 113-112 lead, but Amen Thompson answered with a high-flying dunk. Brunson, much lower to the floor, slithered through the defense for another driving layup and a 115-114 lead with 1:38 left.
The Knicks forced a 24-second violation with 1:14 to play and Brunson drained a three-pointer with one minute left to put the Knicks up by four.
Brunson then committed a turnover but got the ball back with a steal and combined with Hart to go 6-for-6 from the free-throw line to hold off the Rockets.
“I think just getting stops,” Bridges said. “We locked in down there and we were pushing and getting going and JB was locked in and doing what he does, so it helped us.”
Said Tom Thibodeau: “You have to win games different ways. We knew it would be that type of game of the physicality, of playing small, the aggressiveness of it, and then we got in a hole but we found a way to win. I love the way we responded in the fourth quarter. Whatever it was going to take, we were going to do.’’