Knicks' Winning Streak Cut Short: Rockets Hand New York a 109-97 Defeat

Off Shooting Night for the Knicks From the opening tip, it was clear that the Knicks were in for a tough night. Despite Jalen Brunson's game-high 29 points, New York struggled with their shooting, finishing the game at a dismal 38.6 percent (34-for-88) from the field. Brunson himself had an off night, going 9-for-24 overall and hitting just 7-for-20 on two-pointers. Ironically, the Knicks found some success from beyond the arc, shooting 39.3 percent, but their limited attempts (28) at three-pointers hindered their offensive flow. Bright Spots Amid Struggles While it was a rough night for the Knicks, there were still some standout performances. OG Anunoby was a bright spot, hitting 5-for-6 from three-point range and finishing with 21 points. Additionally, Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 17 points and an impressive 19 rebounds, showcasing his dominance on the glass. However, the Knicks were out-rebounded by the Rockets 50-39, an area that proved to be crucial in the game's outcome. Rockets’ Efficiency Shines The Rockets, led by a stellar performance from Alperen Sengun, who recorded a near 5x5 game with 25 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks, showcased their efficiency on the court. Sengun shot an impressive 11-for-15 from the field, proving to be a formidable presence for the Knicks to contend with. Houston's ability to maintain their lead, even with a lackluster three-point shooting performance of 24.2 percent (8-for-33), speaks volumes about their resilience and teamwork. Bench Performance Lags One of the more concerning aspects of the game for the Knicks was the lack of production from their bench. Tyler Kolek was the only bench player to score, hitting one three-pointer in six minutes of action. Miles McBride struggled significantly, going 0-for-9 from the field, yet managed to have a net rating of +10 due to his defensive efforts. The absence of meaningful contributions from the bench left the starters with too much of a burden to carry. Comeback Efforts Fall Short As the game progressed, the Knicks attempted to rally in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to just one point on several occasions. However, a late 16-5 run by the Rockets extinguished any hopes of a comeback, demonstrating Houston's ability to close out a game under pressure.