The New York Knicks rallied from behind to overcome an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter and upset the Houston Rockets 108-106 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson played a pivotal role in the comeback, helping the Knicks seize victory despite Kevin Durant’s late three-pointer narrowing the gap to a single point.
Rockets’ Fourth-Quarter Collapse and Knicks’ Scoring Surge
The Houston Rockets held a 16-point advantage by the end of the third quarter, with Durant leading the charge. However, the Knicks responded aggressively in the final period, outscoring Houston 33-15. Key contributions from Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Jalen Brunson propelled the comeback, while the Rockets struggled offensively, taking only five shots and committing nine turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Individual Performances and Team Standings Impact
Durant finished with a game-high 30 points on 10-for-26 shooting and went 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. For the Knicks, Towns led with 25 points, while Anunoby and Brunson each added 20 points. The victory improved New York’s record to 36-21 overall and 22-8 at home, allowing them to climb ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference.
Playoff Implications Amid Rockets’ Late-Game Struggles
The Rockets fell to 34-21 and saw their road record slip to 16-14. This loss continued a troubling trend for Houston, which has struggled to maintain leads late in games, raising questions about their postseason prospects. The Lakers, also at 34-21, could overtake the Rockets in the standings if they win their upcoming game against the Boston Celtics, placing additional pressure on Houston’s playoff positioning.
“Durant finished the loss with a game-high 30 points on 10-for-26 shooting from the field and 4-for-10 shooting from deep.”
?NBA Statistics
“The Rockets were held to just five shots, while committing nine turnovers, over that span.”
?Game Summary
“The win marked the Knicks’ largest fourth-quarter comeback since November 2023 and continued a recent pattern of blown leads for the Rockets.”
?Team Analyst
The Knicks pull off their biggest comeback win of the season in an 18-point turnaround in the 4th quarter over the Rockets. pic.twitter.com/fQYoLxkpAV
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 22, 2026
