The New York Knicks staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-106, overturning an 18-point deficit late in the game. The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge, contributing 25 points overall and energizing the Knicks with a dominant 33-point quarter against Houston‘s 15.
Towns Motivates Team with a Defensive Challenge at Crucial Moment
Following the match, Towns shared how he inspired his teammates before the final quarter, urging them to approach the period with a challenger’s mindset. He emphasized the importance of securing a defensive stop right from the first possession of the fourth quarter to shift momentum.
“I just challenged our team to start the fourth as challengers. You know, we can win this game and I have seen us doing it. It starts at the first possession of the fourth quarter playing defence, we gotta get a stop. That is the most important possession of the game, the first play in the fourth quarter,”
he stated. ?Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks center
Towns’ Defensive Effort Sets Tone for Team’s Intensity
He further described his personal role in sparking the comeback by securing that initial critical stop, which then established the intensity the Knicks needed for the remainder of the game. This defensive stand paved the way for the Knicks’ surge in a demanding scenario.
“And, I wanted to my part as well to get that stop. And from that point, you go on. It sets the tone for our team and set the intensity level that we needed to play for as we expected to go out and win,”
Towns explained. ?Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks center
Key Fourth-Quarter Run and Rockets’ Struggles Fuel Knicks’ Momentum
New York’s momentum peaked during a critical 14-2 run late in the fourth quarter, which trimmed Houston’s lead to just two points with a little over three minutes remaining. However, the Rockets struggled offensively, missing eight straight shots while accumulating 20 turnovers that converted into 30 points for the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson Completes Comeback with Late Scoring Surge
While Towns ignited the revival, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson delivered the decisive contributions down the stretch. Brunson scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, including a tie-breaking jumper followed by a go-ahead pull-up shot that sealed the victory for New York.
Looking Ahead: Knicks Prepare for Upcoming Battle with Bulls
With this dramatic win, the Knicks now turn their focus to their next challenge against the Chicago Bulls. The team will aim to build on the energy and resilience demonstrated in overcoming the Rockets, hoping to sustain their momentum moving forward in the season.
"I just challenged our team to start the fourth"
Karl-Anthony Towns talks about his message to his teammates before the fourth quarter, challenging them to get a stop to start the quarter: pic.twitter.com/NkwWAwj8kr
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 22, 2026
