NEW YORK – In an impressive display of skill and determination, Jalen Brunson scored 42 points and provided 10 assists, surpassing Carmelo Anthony to claim third place on the franchise list for 40-point games. His remarkable effort pushed the New York Knicks to a 124-118 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday evening.
Brunson was particularly pivotal in the fourth quarter, where he delivered 17 points, helping the Knicks rebound from a challenging position after trailing by 11 points at the end of the third quarter. This performance marked his 12th instance of scoring at least 30 points and dishing out 10 assists since joining the Knicks, exceeding Hall of Famer Richie Guerin’s record for the most such games in team history.
Alongside Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges contributed significantly, each netting 22 points, while Josh Hart added 19 points to the scoreboard.
For the Rockets, Amen Thompson recorded a notable triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, marking his third career triple-double. However, the Rockets faced their third consecutive defeat, a first for the season. Additionally, Cam Whitmore came off the bench to contribute 18 points.
Takeaways from the game indicate a tough period for the Rockets, who have struggled at the start of February after an impressive 11-4 run in January that earned head coach Ime Udoka the Western Conference Coach of the Month award. The team is currently without All-Star Alperen Sengun and lacked height, starting no player taller than 6-foot-8 during the match.
Meanwhile, the Knicks encountered their own challenges as they played without starting forward OG Anunoby for the first time this season due to a sprained right foot, making Brunson’s performance even more crucial.
A key moment in the game occurred when Brunson’s layup propelled the Knicks into the lead with just 1:38 left on the clock, and following that, a clutch three-pointer extended their advantage to 118-114 with a minute remaining in the contest.
In terms of accolades, only Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing (30 games) and Bernard King (23 games) have more instances of 40-point games in Knicks history than Brunson, who is enjoying his third season with the organization.
Looking ahead, the Rockets will head to Brooklyn on Tuesday for their next matchup, while the Knicks will travel to Toronto on the same day, aiming to build on their recent victory.
