NEW YORK (Interstat) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points and the New York Knicks mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-106 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, who trailed by 18 points entering the final period, outscored Houston 33-15 in the fourth to snap the Rockets’ five-game winning streak. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each added 20 points for New York. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 30 points for Houston. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 21 points in the loss. The Knicks improved to 37-21, while the Rockets fell to 34-21.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points and the New York Knicks engineered a stunning fourth-quarter comeback, erasing an 18-point deficit to stun the Houston Rockets 108-106 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The victory, sealed by two OG Anunoby free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining, snapped Houston’s five-game winning streak and provided a resounding bounce-back for the Knicks after a disappointing home loss to Detroit two nights prior. For three quarters, the Rockets, led by Kevin Durant’s 30 points, appeared in complete control. They weathered an early New York surge to take a 54-53 halftime lead before exploding in the third quarter. Houston outscored New York 37-22 in the period, shooting 61% from the floor and building a commanding 91-75 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes. The most important part of the game unfolded decisively in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks’ defense transformed the contest. Applying relentless pressure, New York forced eight Houston turnovers in the final period, converting them into 15 crucial points. The Rockets, who had been fluid on offense, managed only 15 points on 5-of-21 shooting in the quarter, going scoreless for a stretch of over four minutes. New York’s offense, meanwhile, found its rhythm. A 14-0 run, fueled by Landry Shamet’s shooting and defensive stops, brought the Knicks back. Shamet, who finished with 14 points, hit two three-pointers during the surge, and a driving layup by Jose Alvarado with 1:52 left gave New York its first lead since the second quarter at 101-99. The teams traded blows in the tense final minutes. Durant, who also grabbed six rebounds, hit a deep three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to pull Houston within 107-106. After a foul, Anunoby calmly sank both free throws. Durant’s desperation 40-foot bank shot at the buzzer missed, sealing the Knicks’ comeback. Jalen Brunson scored 20 points and dished out six assists for New York, while Anunoby added 20 points, including the game-winning free throws, and was a disruptive force defensively with four steals. Mikal Bridges contributed 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. The Knicks improved to 37-21 overall. For Houston, Durant’s 30-point effort was supported by Jabari Smith Jr.’s 21 points and Alperen Sengun’s 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Amen Thompson posted a strong all-around line with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. However, the Rockets were undone by 19 turnovers, which the Knicks converted into 27 points, and a stark disparity in assists, with New York recording 11 to Houston’s five. The Rockets fell to 34-21. The game was a statistical oddity, as Houston actually shot better from the field (47.5% to 49.4%) and from three-point range (38.7% to 38.5%) than New York, and dominated the offensive glass 13-8. But the Knicks’ superior ball security and ability to generate steals—they had 11 to Houston’s five—proved the difference in a game that saw 12 lead changes and was tied eight times. A sold-out crowd of 19,812 at Madison Square Garden witnessed the rally, which defied the pregame expectations that favored New York by 2.5 points. The combined score of 214 points fell just under the betting total of 213.5. The Knicks will look to carry the momentum into a quick road test against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. The Rockets, who saw their winning streak end in dramatic fashion, return home to face the Utah Jazz on Monday.

Preview: Rockets at Knicks, Saturday, February 21, 2026 NEW YORK (Interstat) — A high-stakes interconference showdown is set for Madison Square Garden on Saturday night as the New York Knicks host the Houston Rockets, featuring a marquee matchup of veteran stars Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns. Both teams enter with strong records and recent momentum. The Knicks (36-20) are among the Eastern Conference’s elite and are riding a wave of dominant victories, including a 138-89 rout of Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Rockets (33-20) have won seven of their last ten but are looking to rebound from a narrow 105-102 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night. The spotlight will be on the teams’ leading talents. Houston’s Kevin Durant, the 37-year-old forward, remains a prolific scorer, averaging 24.5 points over his last 10 games. He is coming off a 21-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist performance in the loss to the Clippers. His ability to score from all levels will challenge New York’s defense. For the Knicks, center Karl-Anthony Towns has been a force, recording a double-double in eight of his last ten contests. In the blowout win over the 76ers, he posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes. His inside-outside game and rebounding prowess will be central to New York’s game plan. The Knicks’ supporting cast has been explosive, with guard Jose Alvarado dropping 26 points off the bench and Mikal Bridges adding 22 in their last outing. Houston counters with a strong frontcourt of its own, featuring Alperen Sengun, who nearly had a triple-double (16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) against the Clippers, and Jabari Smith Jr., who added 16 points and 12 rebounds. This game serves as a critical test for both sides before the stretch run. The Rockets will begin a four-game road trip after this contest, while the Knicks embark on a five-game trip starting Sunday. Securing a win at home against a top Western Conference opponent is a priority for New York, while Houston aims to steal a signature road victory to solidify its standing. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden.