Alec Burks scored 17 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and the New York Knicks parlayed late perimeter marksmanship into a 106-99 win over the Houston Rockets Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Burks started 5 for 5 on 3-pointers in the fourth to power the Knicks from a deficit early in the period. His hot shooting, combined with a handful of critical Houston turnovers, enabled the Knicks to rally after Eric Gordon gave the Rockets a 91-89 lead with 5:23 left to play.
Immanuel Quickley followed a Gordon turnover with a 3 for a 95-91 lead with 3:35 left. Burks followed with a pair of 3-pointers to help send the Rockets to their 14th consecutive setback.
Turnovers (22) and missed free throws (13 for 22) again proved fatal for the Rockets. Christian Wood posted his eighth double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) for the Rockets but also had six turnovers. Gordon finished with 15 points and five assists while Jalen Green scored 16 points.
The game featured nine ties and 12 lead changes.
Evan Fournier chipped in 19 points for the Knicks while Julius Randle finished an assist shy of a triple-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Quickley added 13 points off the Knicks bench.
The Rockets committed eight turnovers and shot 7 for 21 in the opening period, but the Knicks’ poor shooting proved to be a counter for both. New York missed 18 of 23 attempts in the first and posted a minus-13 rebounding margin, allowing Houston a 21-13 lead entering the second.
The Knicks closed to within a point before Wood completed a three-point play that pushed the Houston lead back to 30-26. But RJ Barrett scored in transition following a Daniel Theis turnover to pull the Knicks even at 38-38 and Fournier sank a 3 that pushed the Knicks in front.
Gordon closed the half with a layup that knotted the score at 47-47 at the intermission.
Alperen Sengun and Kenyon Martin Jr. scored 10 points apiece off the Houston bench. Sengun added six rebounds and three assists.
–Field Level Media