NEW YORK — In an exciting overtime clash on Thursday night, the New York Knicks triumphed over the Chicago Bulls with a score of 113-111. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with an impressive performance, scoring 32 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Jalen Brunson also made significant contributions to the victory, finishing with 22 points and 12 assists.
The Knicks showcased their depth despite missing some key players. Miles McBride stepped up with 22 points, and Mikal Bridges added 13 points along with 10 rebounds. This game marked their first outing following the All-Star break, bringing their record to 36-18. New York has been on a roll, now winning three consecutive games and nine out of their last eleven. However, they were without Josh Hart, who sat out due to discomfort in his right kneecap, and OG Anunoby, who has been sidelined for six games with a sprained right foot.
For the Bulls, Josh Giddey was a standout performer, contributing 27 points and securing 16 rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic added 21 points. Unfortunately for Chicago, this loss extended their losing streak to five games. In a tense moment at the end of regulation, Vucevic had a chance to win but his shot was blocked by Bridges, leaving the score tied.
Overtime kicked off with Giddey hitting a three-pointer, but the Knicks swiftly took control with a 9-0 run that included three straight baskets from Towns. Chicago didn’t go down easily, narrowing the gap to 113-111 thanks to a couple of shots from Colby White. They had a chance to extend the game, but Vucevic’s contested jumper missed as time expired.
In terms of key developments, reserve forward Jalen Smith from the Bulls left the game early in the first quarter due to a facial injury. Meanwhile, Knicks’ Precious Achiuwa contributed with 11 points and nine rebounds.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Vucevic’s three-pointer gave the Bulls a narrow lead of 104-102 with just 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Brunson quickly answered with a step-back jumper to level the score. In the crucial final moments, a kickball violation against the Knicks set up Vucevic, but his attempt to secure victory was thwarted by Bridges.
One statistic of note was Towns’ transformation after a challenging first half, where he managed only 6 points on 2-for-15 shooting. He turned the game around in the second half and overtime by scoring 26 points on an efficient 12-for-15 shooting.
Looking ahead, the New York Knicks will face the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, while the Chicago Bulls are set to host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
