Game ID: 22300573
Houston Rockets @ New York Knicks
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 23 25 29 32 109HOU 25 21 23 25 94
HOU @ NYK ScoutingHOU @ 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.
NYK availability going into 1/09 · 2 days' restOUT Robinson missed 15 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 4 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/30 after 3, 13 min since (61% of 21)
BACK Sims back 1/03 after 7, 2 min since (15% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 37 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 16 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 5 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Sims back 1/03 after 7, 3 min since (26% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 17 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 6 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 5 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Sims back 1/03 after 7, 3 min since (26% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 18 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 7 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 6 since 1/03, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 2 since 1/13, returns tonight: 37 min (102% of 36)
OUT Robinson missed 19 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 8 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 7 since 1/03, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/18 · back-to-backOUT Robinson missed 20 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 9 since 1/01, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 13)
OUT Sims missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 8 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 37 min since (102% of 36)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 21 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 5 since 1/11, returns tonight: 3 min (22% of 12)
OUT Gibson missed 9 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 39 min since (107% of 36)
BACK Fournier back 1/18 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 13)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/23 · 2 days' restOUT Robinson missed 22 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 10 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
BACK Fournier back 1/18 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 3 min since (22% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 23 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 2 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 11 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 15 min since (120% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 33 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 7 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
NEW Tate 16 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 8 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 1/06, out tonight
NEW Smith Jr. 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Je. Green 17 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Tate 16 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 9 since 12/27, returns tonight: 25 min (81% of 31)
OUT Landale missed 4 since 1/06, returns tonight: 12 min (88% of 14)
NEW Smith Jr. 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Tate 16 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 25 min since (81% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 12 min since (88% of 14)
NEW Smith Jr. 32 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 10 min since (76% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/20 · 2 days' restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 32 min since (104% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 10 min since (76% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/21 · back-to-backOUT Landale missed 2 since 1/17, returns tonight: 11 min (80% of 14)
BACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 33 min since (106% of 31)
HOU availability going into 1/24 · 2 days' restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 34 min since (111% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 11 min since (78% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Landale back 1/21 after 2, 12 min since (89% of 14)
NEW Sengun 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Je. Green 17 to 22 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Randle at 26 and Brunson at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brunson (2 straight), Robinson (19 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 102 a night to Houston's 125 and the arc, New York at 35 percent from three to Houston's 28. Call it New York 117, Houston 109.
1/09 vs POR 112-84 — NYK notes
NYK won 112-84. NYK shot 42% (37 of 89) to POR's 38%, 18 of 48 from three. The glass went 55-43 for them. Anunoby led with 23 (9 of 12, 4 of 6 from three); Randle added 20, Grimes 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-22: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 39. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
1/11 @ DAL 124-128 — NYK notes
NYK lost 124-128. NYK shot 49% (44 of 89) to DAL's 50%, 14 of 42 from three. Randle led with 32 (12 of 23, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Brunson added 30, DiVincenzo 19. Q4 was theirs, 38-27, the deficit cut from 15 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 101-86 against them.
1/13 @ MEM 106-94 — NYK notes
NYK won 106-94. NYK shot 48% (40 of 83) to MEM's 41%, 13 of 38 from three. NYK turned it over 22 times to MEM's 12, and MEM turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 56-35 for them. Randle led with 24 (9 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); McBride added 19, Anunoby 18. The hinge was Q3, 30-15: NYK came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 11. NYK trailed 53-57 at the half and won the second half 53-37. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/15 vs ORL 94-98 — NYK notes
NYK lost 94-98. NYK shot 40% (33 of 83) to ORL's 45%, 13 of 40 from three. McBride led with 20 (8 of 17, 4 of 10 from three); Anunoby added 17, Randle 15. Q3 was theirs, 26-23, but the other 3 periods went 75-68 against them. They led by as many as 11. Hart's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/17 vs HOU 109-94 — NYK notes
NYK won 109-94. NYK shot 45% (39 of 87) to HOU's 42%, 13 of 37 from three. The glass went 51-38 for them. Randle led with 31 (11 of 19, 4 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brunson added 30, Anunoby 15. The hinge was Q4, 32-25: a lead of 8 became 15, and the lead reached 20. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/18 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Randle at 24 and Brunson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Robinson (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-10 a night and Washington minus-5 and the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to Washington's 119. Call it New York 118, Washington 110.
1/20 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 34 and Randle at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Robinson (21 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 19 and Barnes at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Poeltl (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-7 a night and Toronto minus-4 and the defense, New York allowing 105 a night to Toronto's 118. Call it New York 116, Toronto 109.
1/23 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Thomas at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Simmons (35 straight), Clowney (11 straight), Wilson (7 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 36 and Randle at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Robinson (22 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and Brooklyn minus-6 and the turnovers, New York giving it away 16 times a game to Brooklyn's 11. Call it New York 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/25 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 35 and Randle at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Robinson (23 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 101 a night to Denver's 110. Call it New York 113, Denver 108.
1/10 @ CHI 119-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 119-124 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 48% (48 of 101) to CHI's 44%, 11 of 45 from three. Sengun led with 25 (11 of 19, 0 of 3 from three, 3 of 8 at the line); VanVleet added 20, Smith Jr. 18. Q4 was theirs, 29-18, the deficit cut from 11 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 106-90 against them. Tate's -13 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 @ DET 112-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 112-110. HOU shot 46% (41 of 90) to DET's 50%, 8 of 30 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DET's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. HOU turned it over 9 times to DET's 14. Sengun led with 29 (12 of 19, 5 of 7 at the line); Ja. Green added 28, VanVleet 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-25: HOU came in trailing by 7 and left it level. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/13 @ BOS 113-145 — HOU notes
HOU lost 113-145. HOU shot 40% (40 of 99) to BOS's 54%, 7 of 30 from three. Whitmore led with 22 (7 of 13, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Sengun added 19, Brooks 12. Q1 was theirs, 31-35, but the other 3 periods went 110-82 against them. Smith Jr.'s -20 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/15 @ PHI 115-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 115-124. HOU shot 50% (44 of 88) to PHI's 48%, 8 of 27 from three. Ja. Green led with 20 (7 of 16, 1 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Sengun added 19, Brooks 18. Q4 was theirs, 38-26, the deficit cut from 21 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Je. Green's -30 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/17 @ NYK 94-109 — HOU notes
HOU lost 94-109. HOU shot 42% (35 of 84) to NYK's 45%, 8 of 30 from three. The glass went 38-51 against them. VanVleet led with 24 (8 of 19, 5 of 12 from three); Sengun added 18, Ja. Green 15. Q1 was theirs, 25-23, but the other 3 periods went 86-69 against them. Smith Jr.'s -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/20 vs UTA — 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 111 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 26 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 32 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and Sexton at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Hendricks (3 straight), Horton-Tucker (7 straight), Juzang (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 41 percent from three to Houston's 26 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-9 a night and Houston minus-2. Call it Utah 120, Houston 116, Houston keeping it close.
1/21 vs BOS — 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 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 24 and Ja. Green at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 20 and Brown at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Houston's 123. Call it Boston 116, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
1/24 vs POR — 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 111 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Brooks at 15 a game. 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grant at 26 and Brogdon at 22 a game. Without Sharpe (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Portland at 40 percent from three to Houston's 29 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-1 a night and Houston minus-3. Call it Houston 117, Portland 111.
1/26 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 23 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 26 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Smith Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 39 percent from three to Houston's 31 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-0 a night and Houston minus-6. Call it Charlotte 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
NYKDD D. DiVincenzo
IH I. Hartenstein
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
JR J. Randle
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
QG Q. Grimes
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
Randle scores 31 points, Brunson has 30 in return to help the Knicks beat the Rockets 109-94
NEW YORK -- — Bruised and beaten after a rough outing without Jalen Brunson two days earlier, Julius Randle said he told his teammate to get back out on the floor.
The New York Knicks looked totally different once Brunson did.
Randle scored 31 points, Brunson added 30 in his return from a two-game absence and the Knicks beat the Houston Rockets 109-94 on Wednesday night.
“JB being back adds tremendous value to our team, so having the head the snake, our PG back just helps us get a little more organized,” Randle said.
Brunson missed two games because of bruised left calf and Randle struggled without his point guard in a loss to Orlando on Monday, shooting 5 for 18 for 15 points. But the offense was flowing nicely again in the second half Wednesday, when the Knicks pulled away after leading by two at halftime.
“When you’re not able to be out there, it’s tough mentally, but you’ve got to do obviously what’s best for you,” Brunson said. “But obviously I want to be out there and be able to help my team win, but it’s tough watching that. But I have the utmost faith in my teammates whether I’m out there or not."
OG Anunoby had 15 points for the Knicks, who with the victory on coach Tom Thibodeau's 66th birthday reached the halfway point of their schedule at 24-17. Josh Hart finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Fred VanVleet had 24 points and 12 assists for the Rockets. They went 1-5 on a six-game trip. The lone victory came against NBA-worst Detroit and was followed by losses in Boston, Philadelphia and New York.
“We’ve just got to find a way to keep pushing and get back home and get some home cooking,” forward Dillon Brooks said.
Alperen Sengun added 18 points and 10 rebounds in Houston's eighth straight loss to New York.
VanVleet, who had been held in single digits in the previous two games, scored five straight points to cut New York’s lead to 54-53 early in the third quarter. Anunoby then made consecutive 3-pointers and the Knicks outscored the Raptors 20-9 over the next 7 1/2 minutes to open a 74-62 lead.
New York eventually blew it open when Brunson scored, Anunoby was converted a three-point play after a nice feed from Randle and Hart maybe a layup in a 7-0 spurt that gave the Knicks a 98-81 with 4:48 remaining.
The Knicks are 1-1 on a four-game homestand this week. They host Washington on Thursday before a visit Saturday from the Raptors, the first between the teams since their trade last month that brought Anunoby to New York and sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto.
Though the Knicks are 7-2 with Anunoby, the trade left them vulnerable to scoring slumps whenever both Brunson and Randle don't have good nights. When they both play well like Wednesday, there is more than enough offense for a team that has improved defensively since the deal.
The Knicks led 48-46 at halftime. Brunson scored 20 points in the second half and Randle had 17.