The New York Knicks delivered one of their most dramatic wins of the season Saturday night, erasing an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-106 at Madison Square Garden.
Karl-Anthony Towns powered the rally with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson added 20 points and eight free throws, while OG Anunoby contributed 20 points and four steals in a two-way performance that swung momentum late.
New York improved to 36-21, remaining third in the Eastern Conference standings and responding emphatically after Thursday’s loss to the conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
Houston, which entered the night on a five-game winning streak, fell to 34-21 despite 30 points from Kevin Durant.
Durant shot 10-of-26 from the field and committed four turnovers, including a costly offensive foul in the final two minutes.
The Knicks actually led by 13 in the first half, but Houston’s shot-making flipped the game as Jabari Smith Jr. poured in 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, hitting four three-pointers.
Alperen Sengun added 16 points and six assists, while Amen Thompson recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds in 41 minutes.
Houston built its 18-point cushion early in the fourth before New York’s defense tightened.
The Knicks opened the quarter on an 8-1 burst and then capitalized when the Rockets missed eight straight shots and committed two turnovers.
A 14-2 run, capped by Towns’ layup off the glass, cut the deficit to 99-97 with 3:32 remaining.
Brunson later tied the game at 103 with a pull-up jumper with 1:26 left.
On the ensuing possessions, Durant lost the ball near the sideline and then committed an offensive foul charging into Brunson.
Brunson answered with another mid-range jumper to give New York the lead for good.
Durant had a final look from 40 feet at the buzzer, but the attempt missed short as the Garden crowd erupted.
The Knicks shot 49 percent from the field and 88 percent at the line, maximizing efficiency despite being outrebounded 44-29.
They also forced 19 Houston turnovers, a decisive edge in a two-point game.
Landry Shamet chipped in 14 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting, providing spacing that opened driving lanes during the comeback.
Jose Alvarado added eight points and five steals in 20 high-energy minutes.
Houston shot 48 percent overall and 39 percent from three but stalled late under defensive pressure.
The Rockets will look to regroup Monday night when they host the Utah Jazz. The Knicks continue their road swing Sunday against the Chicago Bulls.
