Jalen Brunson’s Dominance Leads Knicks to Victory Over Rockets

NEW YORK, NY — Jalen Brunson showcased his scoring prowess on Monday night, guiding the New York Knicks to a 124-118 victory against the Houston Rockets in a thrilling matchup at Madison Square Garden. Brunson recorded a double-double, finishing with a career-high 42 points and 10 assists, marking his first regular season game with at least 40 points and 10 assists.

Brunson’s performance not only propelled the Knicks (33-17) to their second consecutive win but also allowed him to surpass Carmelo Anthony for third place in franchise history with 18 games of 40 points or more. He contributed significantly in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points and converting 5-of-6 shots from the field, earning chants of “MVP” from the enthusiastic crowd.

The Knicks entered the final quarter trailing by 11 points, but an impressive turnaround led them to outscore the Rockets 46-29 in the closing period. Brunson’s teammates aided the comeback, with Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each contributing 22 points, while Josh Hart added 19 more. In contrast, Precious Achiuwa filled in for the injured OG Anunoby, finishing with seven points and nine rebounds.

After suffering a foot sprain during Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Anunoby was ruled out for Monday’s contest. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged the team’s adjustments without him, stating, “I thought Precious, his defense helped a lot, just because of the switchability that we have with him.”

On the other side, the Rockets (32-17) were missing key players as well, including Alperen Sengun and Fred VanFleet due to injuries. Amen Thompson stood out with a triple-double, recording 22 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. However, this loss marked Houston’s third straight defeat, highlighting their struggles amidst player absences.

The Knicks will aim to maintain their momentum as they face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in Ontario, with the game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.