Game ID: 22300765
New York Knicks @ Houston Rockets
Monday, February 12, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 29 28 17 31 105NYK 22 21 28 32 103
HOU vs NYK ScoutingHOU vs NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Landale missed 3 since 1/29, returns tonight: 7 min (49% of 14)
BACK Smith Jr. back 1/29 after 4, 27 min since (86% of 32)
HOU availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 1/29 after 4, 25 min since (79% of 32)
BACK Landale back 2/04 after 3, 7 min since (49% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/09 · 2 days' restBACK Smith Jr. back 1/29 after 4, 28 min since (88% of 32)
BACK Landale back 2/04 after 3, 7 min since (49% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 2/06, returns tonight: 13 min (94% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 3 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 2/04 after 3, 10 min since (71% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 4 since 2/06, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Landale back 2/04 after 3, 10 min since (71% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 5 since 2/06, returns tonight: 30 min (83% of 37)
OUT Whitmore missed 3 since 2/10, returns tonight: 24 min (130% of 19)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 12 min (88% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 16 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 30 min since (83% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 24 min since (130% of 19)
BACK Landale back 2/10 after 2, 12 min since (91% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK VanVleet back 2/22 after 5, 33 min since (91% of 37)
BACK Whitmore back 2/22 after 3, 22 min since (120% of 19)
BACK Landale back 2/10 after 2, 12 min since (91% of 14)
NEW Thompson 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 28 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 7 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 1/27 after 2, 24 min since (93% of 26)
BACK Gibson back 1/30 after 14, 0 min since (5% of 10)
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/06 · 2 days' restOUT Randle missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 29 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 8 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 2 since 2/01, returns tonight: 13 min (126% of 10)
BACK Hartenstein back 1/27 after 2, 26 min since (100% of 26)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Grimes 20 to 26 min over the last 3
NYK availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 5 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 5 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 30 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 9 since 1/20, not on tonight's roster
BACK Gibson back 1/30 after 14, 7 min since (66% of 10)
NEW Hart 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 17 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 6 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 6 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 31 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Gibson back 1/30 after 14, 12 min since (116% of 10)
NEW Hart 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 7 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 7 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 32 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 3 since 2/06, returns tonight: 29 min (235% of 12)
BACK Gibson back 2/06 after 2, 18 min since (174% of 10)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 8 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 8 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 33 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 2/12 after 3, 29 min since (235% of 12)
BACK Gibson back 2/06 after 2, 15 min since (144% of 10)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 41 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Randle missed 9 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 9 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Hartenstein missed 3 since 2/10, returns tonight: 11 min (42% of 26)
OUT Robinson missed 34 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 2/12 after 3, 34 min since (277% of 12)
BACK Gibson back 2/06 after 2, 14 min since (133% of 10)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 41 min over the last 4
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Burks 15 to 23 min over the last 3
NYK availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 10 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 10 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 35 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 2/22 after 3, 11 min since (42% of 26)
BACK Sims back 2/12 after 3, 29 min since (234% of 12)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 40 min over the last 4
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 18 to 27 min over the last 3
NEW Burks 15 to 21 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 11 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 11 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 36 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 2/22 after 3, 17 min since (67% of 26)
BACK Sims back 2/12 after 3, 25 min since (205% of 12)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 18 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Burks 15 to 20 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 17 and Sengun at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 36 and DiVincenzo at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Randle (7 straight), Anunoby (7 straight), Robinson (32 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New York's 10 and the arc, Houston at 37 percent from three to New York's 31. Call it Houston 115, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
2/04 @ MIN 90-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 90-111. HOU shot 35% (31 of 88) to MIN's 44%, 10 of 30 from three. The glass went 41-58 against them. Sengun led with 15 (7 of 14); Whitmore added 14, VanVleet 11. Q2 was theirs, 21-17, the deficit cut from 8 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 94-69 against them. VanVleet's -27 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/06 @ IND 129-132 — HOU notes
HOU lost 129-132. HOU took 11 more shots (97 to 86), fed by 20 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to IND's 63%, 12 of 25 from three, and went to the line 23 times to IND's 14 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 48-25 for them. Ja. Green led with 30 (12 of 21, 3 of 5 from three); Brooks added 23, Smith Jr. 20. Q2 was theirs, 36-27, turning a 2-point deficit into a 7-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 105-93 against them. They led by as many as 10. Whitmore's -14 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/09 @ TOR 104-107 — HOU notes
HOU lost 104-107. HOU shot 45% (38 of 85) to TOR's 42%, 15 of 38 from three. HOU turned it over 21 times to TOR's 11, and TOR turned those into 14 steals. Brooks led with 20 (6 of 13, 4 of 5 from three); Whitmore added 17, Smith Jr. 12. Q4 was theirs, 33-19, the deficit cut from 17 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 88-71 against them. Ja. Green's -23 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/10 @ ATL 113-122 — HOU notes
HOU lost 113-122. HOU took 12 more shots (100 to 88), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to ATL's 45%, 13 of 43 from three, and got to the line 19 times to ATL's 37. HOU turned it over 17 times to ATL's 11. The glass went 58-41 for them. Ja. Green led with 26 (10 of 22, 2 of 9 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Je. Green added 19, Holiday 18. Q1 was theirs, 31-19, but the other 3 periods went 103-82 against them. They led by as many as 12. Je. Green's -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs NYK 105-103 — HOU notes
HOU won 105-103. HOU shot 45% (36 of 80) to NYK's 46%, 10 of 26 from three, and went to the line 33 times to NYK's 12 — 23 points from the stripe to their 7. HOU turned it over 11 times to NYK's 16. The glass went 39-51 against them. Brooks led with 23 (8 of 15, 6 of 7 from three); Smith Jr. added 20, Sengun 18. The hinge was Q1, 29-22: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/14 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 11 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 26 and Jackson at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Bane (16 straight), LaRavia (15 straight), Williams (8 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brooks at 17 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. Without VanVleet (4 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-10 and the line, where Houston takes 24 free throws a game to Memphis's 11. Call it Houston 112, Memphis 110, Memphis keeping it close.
2/22 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Daniels (3 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). 7 days' rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brooks at 20 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without VanVleet (5 straight), Whitmore (3 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and New Orleans plus-3 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Houston's 117. Call it New Orleans 116, Houston 110.
2/23 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brooks at 17 and Sengun at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-6 and the arc, Phoenix at 39 percent from three to Houston's 35. Call it Phoenix 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/25 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Sengun at 18 and Thompson at 15 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 44 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it OKC 118, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
2/03 vs LAL 105-113 — NYK notes
NYK lost 105-113. NYK took 20 more shots (100 to 80), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to LAL's 49%, 10 of 35 from three, and got to the line 15 times to LAL's 27. The glass went 51-38 for them. Brunson led with 36 (15 of 31, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); DiVincenzo added 26, Hart 12. Q3 was theirs, 27-21, but the other 3 periods went 92-78 against them. Hart's -12 in 42 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/06 vs MEM 123-113 — NYK notes
NYK won 123-113. NYK shot 56% (48 of 86) to MEM's 51%, 11 of 27 from three. NYK turned it over 10 times to MEM's 18. DiVincenzo led with 32 (12 of 18, 4 of 9 from three); Brunson added 27, Achiuwa 17. The hinge was Q2, 37-22: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 28. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/08 vs DAL 108-122 — NYK notes
NYK lost 108-122. NYK took 12 more shots (94 to 82), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to DAL's 52%, 14 of 37 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 19 fouls committed. NYK turned it over 14 times to DAL's 8. DiVincenzo led with 36 (13 of 26, 7 of 12 from three); Hart added 23, McBride 21. Q4 was theirs, 37-35, the deficit cut from 16 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 87-71 against them. DiVincenzo's -19 in 43 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/10 vs IND 111-125 — NYK notes
NYK lost 111-125. NYK shot 48% (40 of 84) to IND's 61%, 10 of 32 from three. NYK turned it over 9 times to IND's 15. Brunson led with 39 (14 of 25, 1 of 5 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Burks added 22, Achiuwa 15. Q1 was theirs, 27-26, but the other 3 periods went 99-84 against them. Hart's -20 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 @ HOU 103-105 — NYK notes
NYK lost 103-105. NYK took 12 more shots (92 to 80), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to HOU's 45%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 23 fouls committed. NYK turned it over 16 times to HOU's 11, and HOU turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 51-39 for them. Brunson led with 27 (10 of 25, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); DiVincenzo added 23, Hart 17. Q3 was theirs, 28-17, the deficit cut from 14 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 88-75 against them. Bogdanović's -13 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (8 straight), Anunoby (8 straight), Hartenstein (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 11 and the line, where Orlando takes 21 free throws a game to New York's 16. Call it Orlando 113, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
2/22 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Hield at 22 a game. Without Embiid (8 straight), Harris (2 straight), Melton (17 straight). 7 days' rest. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Randle (9 straight), Anunoby (9 straight), Hartenstein (3 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 36 percent from three to Philadelphia's 32. Call it Philadelphia 116, New York 113, New York keeping it close.
2/24 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and DiVincenzo at 22 a game. Without Randle (10 straight), Anunoby (10 straight), Robinson (35 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 109, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Porziņģis at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 43 percent from three to New York's 37. Call it Boston 116, New York 111.
2/26 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and DiVincenzo at 16 a game. Without Randle (11 straight), Anunoby (11 straight), Robinson (36 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Cunningham at 21 and Fontecchio at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Stewart (10 straight), Evbuomwan (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 112 a night to Detroit's 119. Call it New York 116, Detroit 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
NW N. Williams
NYKAB A. Burks
BB B. Bogdanović
DD D. DiVincenzo
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
JS J. Sims
MM M. McBride
PA P. Achiuwa
TG T. Gibson
HOU/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Holiday's two free throws after foul by Brunson give Rockets 105-103 victory over Knicks
HOUSTON -- — The Houston Rockets got a win after a call referees said was wrong.
Aaron Holiday had 18 points, capped by two free throws after the disputed foul call by Jalen Brunson behind the 3-point line, to lift the Rockets to a 105-103 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.
Houston had a four-point lead with less than a minute to go before Brunson had the next four points, capped by a jump shot with 8.1 seconds left to tie it at 103.
Precious Achiuwa blocked a short shot by Jalen Green and Holiday grabbed the ball beyond the arc and shot it as Brunson rushed out at him and was called for a foul.
After the game, crew chief Ed Malloy said that in live action they believed “the lower body contact was illegal contact.” But their opinion changed following a replay review.
“After seeing it during postgame review, the offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the floor,” he said. “The contact which occurred after the release of the ball therefore is incidental and marginal to the shot attempt and should not have been called.”
Holiday was asked about the play before Malloy's comments.
“I just tried to get the ball and get a shot up,” Holiday said. “I saw him tip it and it came close to me so I just tried to get it and tried to make a 3, and Jalen just ran into my chest.”
Holiday made the first two free throws before missing the third intentionally to run out the clock.
Brunson was asked about what he thought of the foul three different times and answered with the same four words each time.
“Great call,” he said. “Next question.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about the game's ending.
“Tough way to lose a game," he said twice in a row.
He was then asked what he thought about the officiating and he said it was “great." But when asked directly if he believed Brunson fouled Holiday, he avoided the question.
“You look at it,” he said, slightly shaking his head.
Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, Jabari Smith Jr. added 20 and Alperen Sengun had 18 to help the Rockets snap a four-game skid.
“It was good to see us close it out in the fourth in a back-and-forth game,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said.
Holiday was happy they finished this one after losing a couple of close games.
“This was huge,” he said. “We lost the last two I feel like we could have won and just didn't get it done down the stretch. So I'm glad we were able to pull this one out.”
Brunson had 27 points and Donte DiVincenzo scored 23 as the Knicks lost their third straight.
The Rockets were up by three entering the fourth before Holiday powered an 11-5 run to push the advantage to 85-76 with about nine minutes to go. Holiday opened the quarter with a dunk before hitting a 3-pointer. He added a jump shot next before dishing to Smith for a dunk and finishing his hot stretch with a layup.
A 3-pointer by Brooks put Houston up by 11 before the Knicks scored the next nine points, with the last seven from Bojan Bogdanovic , to cut the lead to 91-89 with 5 ½ minutes to go.
Brooks made a 3 to put Houston up by five with about 3 ½ minutes left, but Josh Hart made one seconds later to get the Knicks within 98-96.
Another 3-pointer by Brooks came after that but this time Alec Burks made one for New York to cut the lead to two again with less than two minutes left.
Houston played without Fred VanVleet , who missed a fourth straight game with a strained left adductor, and rookie Cam Whitmore , out for a second game with a sprained right ankle.
The Rockets led by 14 at halftime before the Knicks opened the second half with a 16-4 run that got them within 61-59 with about 7 ½ minutes left in the third. Brunson scored the first four points in that stretch and Hart had two 3-pointers to help New York trim the deficit.