Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds Sunday night, leading the New York Knicks to a 105-99 win over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
The performance marked Towns’ NBA-leading 39th double-double of the season and helped New York secure its second straight victory. The Knicks improved to 36-21 and remained third in the Eastern Conference standings.
Chicago briefly grabbed a 95-94 lead with 3:52 remaining after Matas Buzelis drilled a 3-pointer. Towns answered with six consecutive points on a 3, a layup and a free throw to swing momentum back to New York.
Mikal Bridges added a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to extend the margin, and Jalen Brunson sealed the outcome with two free throws. Brunson finished with 19 points and nine assists, orchestrating late possessions against a set defense.
New York shot 45% from the field and 15-for-42 from beyond the arc. Ball movement produced 27 assists on 38 made baskets, and the Knicks won the rebounding battle 50-50 while limiting second-chance damage in key stretches.
Landry Shamet scored 16 points off the bench and hit four 3-pointers, providing spacing for Towns in pick-and-pop actions. Josh Hart contributed 11 points and nine rebounds, and OG Anunoby added nine points with nine boards and two steals.
The Knicks built a 13-point lead in the third quarter during a 21-10 run and carried an 83-78 edge into the fourth. Chicago had led 53-52 at halftime before New York tightened its half-court defense.
The Bulls, who dropped their ninth straight game, shot 40% overall and 16-for-46 from 3-point range. They struggled to generate consistent interior scoring in late-game situations.
Buzelis led Chicago with 15 points, while Jalen Smith and Isaac Okoro each added 12. Guerschon Yabusele posted 11 points and 13 rebounds against his former team.
Smith exited in the third quarter with right calf tightness. The Bulls were also without injured guards Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons.
Mitchell Robinson did not play for New York due to left ankle injury management, increasing Towns’ workload in the paint. The Knicks next travel to Cleveland, and Chicago hosts Charlotte.
