Knicks overcome double-digit deficits in gritty 124-118 win over Rockets

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The Knicks wrapped up their five-game homestand on a positive note, outlasting the Houston Rockets, 124-118, on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Here are the takeaways…

— New York shared some unwanted injury news hours before tip-off, as they ruled out OG Anunoby due to a non-contact foot sprain he suffered in Saturday’s loss to the Lakers. But the veteran winger isn’t expected to miss much time — he underwent an MRI and is considered day-to-day, head coach Tom Thibodeau said pregame. Anunoby was initially listed as questionable for Monday’s contest.

— Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored a season-low 11 points on Saturday, made a concerted effort to be more aggressive from the jump. He took six shots in the first quarter for six points with two rebounds, but also committed two fouls that forced him to the bench midway through. The Knicks’ defense also wasn’t disruptive early on, as the Rockets orchestrated a 15-4 run that drew the ire of Thibodeau.

— The Knicks responded with a brief run of their own before the first quarter ended, and trailed by just two, 27-25, through 12 minutes. They weren’t efficient with the rock, however — they failed to make a three-pointer on five attempts. Jalen Brunson was also vocal about the Rockets’ physicality on defense, as the officials allowed plenty of contact that disrupted his moves inside the paint.

— New York couldn’t buy a bucket in the first few minutes of the second quarter, and Houston took advantage of those misses in transition to build a larger lead. By the 9:03 mark the Rockets held an 11-point advantage, and the cold spell prompted a Knicks timeout. The Knicks also didn’t make their first three until their 10th attempt — they entered Monday ranked fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage.

— While the first half was chock-full of frustration and erraticism from the Knicks, they threw just enough punches back to cut their halftime deficit to single-digits (57-52). With Anunoby in street clothes, Mikal Bridges stepped up on the wing, scoring a team-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 18 minutes. First-half offense came in bunches, as both teams shot 44…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-overcome-double-digit-deficits-031927064.html

Author : SNY

Publish date : 2025-02-04 03:19:00

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