Knicks Outplayed in Houston by Young Rockets Squad
Last Wednesday, the New York Knicks looked to find balance after defeating the Miami Heat to move up to a 2-2 record on the season. On Friday, they brought an onslaught to Detroit, defeating the Pistons by 30. However, Monday night in Houston during the first game of a four-game road trip, the Knicks struggled offensively and kept having to claw back in this one. While they were down by five with about 90 seconds to go, the team could not come up clutch and overcome this young Rockets squad as they took a 109-97 loss, dropping their record to 3-3. New York shot about 39 percent from the field and from beyond the arc. They certainly need to be more efficient moving forward. Karl-Anthony Towns should look to be more aggressive, he picked up his play during the second half and finished the game with 19 rebounds, if he was tougher against his opponents, perhaps he could have racked up more.
Houston took a five-point lead by the end of the first quarter and would hold a five-point lead heading into halftime. While the Knicks shot 53 percent from three, they were out-rebounded by nine and committed three more turnovers than this young Rockets team. OG Anunoby led all scorers with 16 points. Both Jalen Brunson and Fred VanVleet dropped 14 points a piece. The Rockets’ great defense during the third quarter only allowed 19 points by the Knicks on seven of 27 shooting, equalling a grim 26 percent from the field. Even with all the poor shooting, Houston had just a six-point lead heading into the final quarter of action. New York was able to keep the game in reach throughout the fourth quarter. While they never led the game, the Knicks still kept the game close within one or two possessions, after a driving dunk by Amen Thompson, the Rockets led by five. Brunson missed a big three-point opportunity which the Rockets capitalized on when Jalen Green knocked down a three-pointer. Houston went on to take a 109-97 win.
Brunson led all scorers with 29 points along with having three rebounds, eight assists, and a steal. Anunoby had 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal, and two blocks. Towns finished with 17 points, 19 rebounds, and a block in the loss. For Houston, Alperen Şengün had a monster game for the Rockets as he dropped 25 points in addition to recording 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks.
