Game ID: 22400702
Houston Rockets @ New York Knicks
Monday, February 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 25 27 26 46 124HOU 27 30 32 29 118
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 1/25 · 3 days' restOUT Sims missed 2 since 1/20, returns tonight: 2 min (21% of 11)
BACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 38 min since (108% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 8 min since (58% of 14)
NYK availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 10 min since (70% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/15 after 3, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 10 min since (73% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/01 · 2 days' restBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 9 min since (65% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restBACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backBACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 2 min since (19% of 11)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 26 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/08 · 3 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 32 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 4 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 33 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 11 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 44 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 15 min (116% of 13)
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/16 after 13, 23 min since (96% of 24)
NEW Thompson 32 to 40 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/28 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 12 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 45 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 4 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 1/22, returns tonight: 16 min (139% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 5 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/27 after 2, 15 min since (116% of 13)
NEW Thompson 32 to 40 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 13 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 46 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 6 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/27 after 2, 16 min since (125% of 13)
BACK Landale back 1/20 after 5, 13 min since (113% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 14 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 47 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 6 since 1/20, returns tonight: 16 min (129% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 7 since 1/18, returns tonight: 8 min (73% of 12)
BACK Holiday back 1/27 after 2, 16 min since (125% of 13)
BACK Landale back 1/28 after 3, 16 min since (140% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 15 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 48 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/27 after 2, 15 min since (117% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 2/01 after 6, 16 min since (129% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/28 after 3, 14 min since (116% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/01 after 7, 8 min since (73% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 39 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT Sengun missed 3 since 1/30, returns tonight: 34 min (108% of 32)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 16 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 49 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/27 after 2, 15 min since (121% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 2/01 after 6, 11 min since (88% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/28 after 3, 14 min since (116% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/01 after 7, 8 min since (73% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Adams 15 to 22 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 17 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 50 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 2/03, returns tonight: 14 min (121% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 2/04 after 3, 34 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 2/01 after 6, 16 min since (136% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 30 min over the last 3
NEW Adams 15 to 22 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 18 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 51 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 2/04 after 3, 34 min since (105% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 2/01 after 6, 17 min since (137% of 12)
BACK Landale back 2/06 after 2, 14 min since (121% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Adams 15 to 22 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/09 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 4 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 19 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 52 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 2/03, returns tonight: 20 min (170% of 12)
BACK Sengun back 2/04 after 3, 35 min since (110% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 2/01 after 6, 15 min since (122% of 12)
BACK Landale back 2/06 after 2, 14 min since (121% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Adams 15 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 22 and Anunoby at 21 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Brooks at 20 a game. Without Sengun (2 straight), Smith Jr. (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to New York's 18. Call it New York 117, Houston 112.
1/25 vs SAC 143-120 — NYK notes
NYK won 143-120. NYK shot 50% (52 of 105) to SAC's 48%, 17 of 36 from three, and went to the line 23 times to SAC's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 53-38 for them. Anunoby led with 33 (12 of 18, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Bridges added 27, Brunson 25. The hinge was Q1, 38-25: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Achiuwa was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/27 vs MEM 143-106 — NYK notes
NYK won 143-106. NYK shot 52% (56 of 108) to MEM's 45%, 17 of 44 from three. NYK turned it over 10 times to MEM's 26. Bridges led with 28 (12 of 19, 2 of 6 from three); Towns added 24, Brunson 20. The hinge was Q4, 41-22: a lead of 18 became 37. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +43.
1/29 vs DEN 122-112 — NYK notes
NYK won 122-112. NYK shot 52% (48 of 93) to DEN's 49%, 14 of 34 from three. NYK turned it over 5 times to DEN's 14. The glass went 35-47 against them. Brunson led with 30 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Anunoby added 23, Hart 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-27: from level to 4 ahead. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/01 vs LAL 112-128 — NYK notes
NYK lost 112-128. NYK took 14 more shots (95 to 81), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to LAL's 58%, 10 of 28 from three. Hart led with 26 (11 of 16, 1 of 5 from three); Brunson added 17, Bridges 16. Q3 was theirs, 35-32, the deficit cut from 5 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 96-77 against them. Hart's -20 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/03 vs HOU 124-118 — NYK notes
NYK won 124-118. NYK shot 51% (47 of 93) to HOU's 46%, 6 of 26 from three, and went to the line 30 times to HOU's 15 — 24 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 40-50 against them. Brunson led with 42 (14 of 27, 1 of 4 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Bridges added 22, Towns 22. The hinge was Q4, 46-29: NYK came in trailing by 11 and left it ahead by 6. NYK trailed 52-57 at the half and won the second half 72-61. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
2/04 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Barrett at 18 a game. Without Mogbo (7 straight), Shead (2 straight), Lawson (6 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Bridges at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 102 a night to New York's 117 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 13 times a game to New York's 10. Call it Toronto 115, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
2/08 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Anunoby (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it New York 117, Boston 114, Boston keeping it close.
2/11 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Mathurin at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (45 straight). 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and Hart at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Anunoby (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been minus-5 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the arc, New York at 34 percent from three to Indiana's 30. Call it Indiana 117, New York 115, New York keeping it close.
2/12 vs ATL — 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 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 22 a game. Without Anunoby (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 29 and Daniels at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Johnson (10 straight), Capela (8 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to New York's 33. Call it New York 119, Atlanta 118, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/27 @ BOS 114-112 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-112. HOU shot 45% (41 of 92) to BOS's 49%, 17 of 41 from three. HOU turned it over 7 times to BOS's 14. Brooks led with 36 (13 of 23, 10 of 15 from three); Thompson added 33, Green 12. The hinge was Q4, 29-23: HOU came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 2. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/28 @ ATL 100-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 100-96. HOU shot 47% (37 of 79) to ATL's 40%, 7 of 30 from three. HOU turned it over 21 times to ATL's 16, and ATL turned those into 11 steals. Green led with 25 (11 of 24, 1 of 9 from three); Sengun added 18, Tate 16. The hinge was Q3, 33-23: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 16. HOU trailed 49-50 at the half and won the second half 51-46. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/30 @ MEM 119-120 — HOU notes
HOU lost 119-120. HOU shot 43% (42 of 97) to MEM's 52%, 13 of 32 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MEM's 20 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. Green led with 25 (8 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Brooks added 22, Thompson 21. Q1 was theirs, 38-33, but the other 3 periods went 87-81 against them. They led by as many as 11.
2/01 vs BKN 98-110 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-110. HOU took 8 more shots (95 to 87), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to BKN's 49%, 12 of 39 from three, and got to the line 15 times to BKN's 21. Ja. Green led with 29 (11 of 24, 3 of 11 from three); Brooks added 16, Eason 12. Q4 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 19 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 83-64 against them. Whitmore's -15 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/03 @ NYK 118-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 118-124. HOU took 11 more shots (104 to 93), fed by 20 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to NYK's 51%, 8 of 28 from three, and got to the line 15 times to NYK's 30. The glass went 50-40 for them. Thompson led with 25 (9 of 17, 7 of 7 at the line); Green added 21, Whitmore 18. Q3 was theirs, 32-26, but the other 3 periods went 98-86 against them. They led by as many as 12. Tate's -24 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 101, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; K. Johnson at 17 and Russell at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without C. Johnson (5 straight), Thomas (15 straight), Clowney (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Thompson at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sengun (3 straight), Smith Jr. (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Brooklyn minus-5 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 101 a night to Houston's 112. Call it Brooklyn 108, Houston 107, Houston keeping it close.
2/06 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 35 and Reid at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Randle (3 straight), DiVincenzo (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Brooks at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight), Smith Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to Houston's 32 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 15 times a game to Minnesota's 12. Call it Minnesota 113, Houston 109, Houston keeping it close.
2/08 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 26 and Gafford at 14 a game. Without Washington (3 straight), Lively II (12 straight), Hardy (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Brooks at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without VanVleet (3 straight), Smith Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 116 a night to Dallas's 127. Call it Dallas 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/09 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Green at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without VanVleet (4 straight), Smith Jr. (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Barnes at 18 and Dick at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Barrett (3 straight), Poeltl (2 straight), Lawson (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and Toronto minus-9 and the arc, Toronto at 39 percent from three to Houston's 32. Call it Houston 115, Toronto 111, Toronto keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKAH A. Hukporti
CP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
PA P. Achiuwa
HOUAH A. Holiday
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
NYK/HOU 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
Jalen Brunson has 42 points and 10 assists to rally the Knicks past the Rockets, 124-118
NEW YORK -- — Jalen Brunson had 42 points and 10 assists, breaking a tie with Carmelo Anthony for third on the franchise list with his 18th 40-point game with the Knicks, and New York beat the Houston Rockets 124-118 on Monday night.
Brunson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to bring the Knicks back in a game they trailed by 11 after three. He ended up with his 12th game with at least 30 points and 10 assists since coming to New York, passing Hall of Famer Richie Guerin for most in franchise history.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each added 22 points for the Knicks. Josh Hart had 19.
Amen Thompson had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his third career triple-double for the Rockets, who have lost three in a row for the first time all season. Cam Whitmore added 18 points off the bench.
Takeaways Rockets: With All-Star Alperen Sengun among the missing players for the Rockets, it's been a rough start to February after an 11-4 January that earned Ime Udoka Western Conference coach of the month honors. Houston started nobody taller than 6-foot-8 Monday.
Knicks: Brunson gave the Knicks something extra on a night they played without starting forward OG Anunoby for the first time this season because of a sprained right foot.
Key moment Brunson's layup gave the Knicks the lead with 1:38 remaining and he followed with a 3-pointer that made it 118-114 with a minute to play.
Key stat Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing (30) and Bernard King (23) are the only players with more 40-point games as a Knick than Brunson, who is in his third season with the team.
Up next The Rockets head across town to visit Brooklyn on Tuesday. The Knicks visit Toronto on Tuesday.