Knicks’ Comeback Falls Short vs. Rockets

A failure to launch doomed the New York Knicks against the Houston Rockets.

Hosting Houston took a lead just before four minutes went by in a Monday meeting and never relinquished it, paving the way to a 109-97 victory at Toyota Center. The Knicks’ visit served as a showcase for Alperen Sengun, who put up a 25-point, 14-rebound double-double with four blocks while Fred VanVleet overcame early struggles to earn 19 points, including 7-of-8 from two-point range.

The Knicks (3-3) endured their first loss of his ongoing road trip and were also held to double-figures for the first time this season and for the first time since early April. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 29 points in defeat while Karl-Anthony Towns stretched his double-double streak to five games with 19 rebounds and 17 points. Towns’ 75 boards through the first six games are the second-most any new Knick has had in that span behind only the 84 Zach Randolph put up in 2007.

All that and more wasn’t enough for the Knicks to overcome a Houst lead that reached as his as 15 before New York cut it to as little as one. While they held rising Rockets star Jalen Green in check for most of the night, his pair of late triples, including one at the onset of the final minute, served as de facto daggers into the Knicks’ comeback.

Thus wasted in the effort was a five three-point tally from OG Anunoby, his best in blue since joining the Knicks late last December. The Knicks certainly had their chances to succeed from three but Anunoby was responsible for half of their output: beyond Anunoby, the Knicks were 6-of-22 with an extra point on the line, with Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride going a combined 0-for-9 (including 0-for-5 alone for McBride).

The latter triple followed a showstopping dunk from Amen Thompson and the dramatic double not only put Houston (4-3) by two possessions permanently but complemented a sterling defensive performance that helped keep Brunson in check. Despite Towns’ best efforts, Sengun did his damage when it mattered most, scoring 10 in the final period to secure the win. Towns was a game-worst minus-26 on the night as the Knicks failed to extend their first winning streak of the year.

The Knicks round this early road trip out on Wednesday night when they face the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

Make sure you bookmark All Knicks for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!