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The New York Knicks staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, erasing an 18-point deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-106 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 25 points and 7 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each contributed 20 points in the victory. New York outscored Houston 33-15 in the final quarter to complete the turnaround.
Turkish center Alperen Sengun finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks for the Rockets, though he played only two minutes in the final seven minutes of the game.
Kevin Durant scored a team-high 30 points in the loss, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 21.
The win improved New York's record to 36-21, while Houston dropped to 34-21, ending a five-game winning streak.
Houston appeared in control through three quarters, building a commanding 18-point lead early in the fourth quarter behind efficient scoring from their starters.
However, the Rockets' intensity dropped as fouls and turnovers mounted. Houston shot just 27.8% in the fourth quarter while missing eight consecutive shots during one crucial stretch.
The Knicks began their comeback with an 8-1 run in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. A subsequent 14-2 run, capped by Towns' layup off the glass, cut the deficit to 99-97 with 3:32 remaining.
Brunson proved decisive in the final minutes, going 4-for-4 from the field in the fourth quarter and taking three charges on defense.
His jumper tied the game at 103 with 1:26 left. After Durant lost the ball near the sideline and committed an offensive foul on the following possession, Brunson answered with a pull-up jumper that gave New York the lead for good.
Durant had a chance to win it at the buzzer but missed a 40-foot attempt.
Mikal Bridges added 11 points for the Knicks, who bounced back from a loss to Eastern Conference-leading Detroit two nights earlier.
In other NBA action, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 139-122 to extend their winning streak to eight games.
Victor Wembanyama dominated with 28 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks, while De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Keldon Johnson each scored 18 points for San Antonio.
Keegan Murray and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 20 points each. Rookie Maxime Raynaud recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Sacramento, playing without injured center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine, who are out for the season, suffered their 16th consecutive loss—a franchise record.
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