Game ID: 22400792
Chicago Bulls @ New York Knicks
Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
NYK 19 31 33 21 9 113CHI 21 22 38 23 7 111
CHI @ NYK ScoutingCHI @ 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 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
NYK availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 5 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 2 since 2/11, returns tonight: 0 min (4% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 36 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 6 since 2/03, returns tonight: 27 min (72% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 0 min since (4% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 38 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 40 min (108% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 27 min since (72% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 37 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/26 · 2 days' restBACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 40 min since (108% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 31 min since (84% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 33 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 2 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 39 min since (105% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 35 min since (94% of 37)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 32 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backOUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK White back 1/29 after 4, 32 min since (98% of 33)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 25 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/08 · 2 days' restOUT Terry missed 2 since 2/04, returns tonight: 4 min (29% of 14)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 4 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK White back 1/29 after 4, 32 min since (97% of 33)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 27 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' restOUT Ball missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 5 since 1/31, returns tonight: 8 min (62% of 12)
BACK Terry back 2/08 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 14)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 28 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT Ball missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Terry back 2/08 after 2, 9 min since (66% of 14)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/11 after 5, 8 min since (62% of 12)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 27 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Ball missed 4 since 2/05, returns tonight: 30 min (134% of 22)
BACK Terry back 2/08 after 2, 9 min since (66% of 14)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/11 after 5, 8 min since (62% of 12)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 27 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Terry missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 4 min (31% of 14)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Ball back 2/20 after 4, 30 min since (134% of 22)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 26 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 2 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 2/12, returns tonight: 7 min (56% of 12)
BACK Ball back 2/20 after 4, 30 min since (133% of 22)
BACK Terry back 2/08 after 2, 7 min since (54% of 14)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 24 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Dosunmu missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 3 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Ball back 2/20 after 4, 22 min since (101% of 22)
BACK Terry back 2/22 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/11 after 5, 7 min since (59% of 12)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 26 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 2 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Dosunmu missed 3 since 2/22, returns tonight: 23 min (75% of 30)
OUT Williams missed 4 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 3 since 2/22, returns tonight: 13 min (86% of 15)
BACK Ball back 2/20 after 4, 24 min since (108% of 22)
BACK Terry back 2/22 after 2, 14 min since (107% of 14)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 2/24 after 3, 7 min since (56% of 12)
NEW Buzelis 19 to 27 min over the last 5
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 125 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 28 a game. Without Anunoby (5 straight). 7 days' rest. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 129, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Giddey at 16 and White at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Ball (4 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been minus-3 a night and Chicago minus-12. Call it New York 124, Chicago 115.
2/04 @ TOR 121-115 — NYK notes
NYK won 121-115. NYK shot 50% (47 of 94) to TOR's 52%, 8 of 25 from three. Brunson led with 28 (10 of 21, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Towns added 27, Bridges 17. The hinge was Q2, 38-17: NYK came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 17, and the lead reached 23. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/08 vs BOS 104-131 — NYK notes
NYK lost 104-131. NYK shot 42% (35 of 83) to BOS's 54%, 9 of 24 from three. The glass went 30-48 against them. Brunson led with 36 (10 of 18, 3 of 7 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Hart added 17, Payne 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-31, but the other 3 periods went 100-75 against them. Achiuwa's -37 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/11 @ IND 128-115 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-115. NYK shot 54% (49 of 91) to IND's 48%, 10 of 27 from three. The glass went 48-36 for them. Towns led with 40 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Hart added 30, McBride 15. The hinge was Q2, 41-34: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 21. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/12 vs ATL 149-148 — NYK notes
NYK won 149-148 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 57% (54 of 94) to ATL's 50%, 11 of 26 from three. NYK turned it over 17 times to ATL's 12, and ATL turned those into 12 steals. Towns led with 44 (14 of 25, 7 of 10 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Brunson added 36, Achiuwa 26. The hinge was Q1, 38-29: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
2/20 vs CHI 113-111 — NYK notes
NYK won 113-111 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 43% (46 of 107) to CHI's 40%, 14 of 46 from three. Towns led with 32 (14 of 30, 2 of 10 from three); McBride added 23, Brunson 22. The hinge was Q2, 31-22: NYK came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 7.
2/21 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Anunoby (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to New York's 124 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and New York minus-1. Call it Cleveland 122, New York 115.
2/23 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 129, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hart (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to New York's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and New York minus-6. Call it Boston 121, New York 111, Boston by 10.
2/26 vs PHI — 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 120 a night and allowing 127, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 33 and Brunson at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 24 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 19 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Edwards (3 straight), Okeke (6 straight), Lowry (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 36 percent from three to Philadelphia's 24 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to New York's 127. Call it New York 118, Philadelphia 112.
2/28 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 31 and Brunson at 28 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Memphis 122, New York 118, New York keeping it close.
2/05 @ MIN 108-127 — CHI notes
CHI lost 108-127. CHI shot 48% (40 of 83) to MIN's 43%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line 22 times to MIN's 28. The glass went 34-59 against them. White led with 20 (5 of 11, 4 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Giddey added 19, Buzelis 14. Q2 was theirs, 30-23, the deficit cut from 9 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 104-78 against them. Giddey's -23 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/08 vs GSW 111-132 — CHI notes
CHI lost 111-132. CHI shot 44% (35 of 79) to GSW's 50%, 17 of 39 from three. The glass went 31-44 against them. White led with 27 (7 of 12, 6 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Buzelis added 16, Smith 15. Q2 was theirs, 38-21, turning a 3-point deficit into a 14-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 111-73 against them. They led by as many as 24. White's -27 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/11 vs DET 92-132 — CHI notes
CHI lost 92-132. CHI shot 35% (35 of 100) to DET's 53%, 10 of 47 from three, and went to the line 19 times to DET's 13 — 12 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 44-55 against them. Buzelis led with 12 (5 of 7); Giddey added 11. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 46 to 40, but the other 3 periods went 105-59 against them. Vučević's -33 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs DET 110-128 — CHI notes
CHI lost 110-128. CHI shot 43% (37 of 86) to DET's 51%, 9 of 41 from three. The glass went 37-47 against them. Dosunmu led with 23 (9 of 16, 0 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Vučević added 21, Giddey 17. Q1 was theirs, 32-32, but the other 3 periods went 96-78 against them. Giddey's -29 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 @ NYK 111-113 — CHI notes
CHI lost 111-113 in 1 overtime. CHI shot 40% (41 of 103) to NYK's 43%, 19 of 48 from three. Giddey led with 27 (11 of 18, 4 of 6 from three); Vučević added 21, Ball 14. Q3 was theirs, 38-33, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 4 periods went 80-73 against them. Dosunmu's -16 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 17 and Vučević at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Booker at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Ighodaro (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Chicago takes 23 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18. Call it Phoenix 117, Chicago 116, Chicago keeping it close.
2/24 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 27 from three, 21 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Embiid at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Edwards (2 straight), Okeke (5 straight), Lowry (4 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 125, shooting 41 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Giddey at 18 and Vučević at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Williams (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 114 a night to Chicago's 125 and the arc, Chicago at 32 percent from three to Philadelphia's 27. Call it Philadelphia 117, Chicago 111.
2/26 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 21 and Vučević at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Dosunmu (2 straight), Williams (3 straight), Smith (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Zubac at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Powell (3 straight), Leonard (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-2 a night and Chicago minus-6. Call it Chicago 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/28 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Giddey at 23 and Vučević at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Vučević (2 straight), Dosunmu (3 straight), Williams (4 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barrett at 23 and Quickley at 18 a game. Without Rhoden (2 straight), Lawson (2 straight), Battle (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-0 a night and Chicago minus-4. Call it Chicago 118, Toronto 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKAH A. Hukporti
CP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
PA P. Achiuwa
CHIAD A. Dosunmu
CW C. White
JG J. Giddey
JP J. Phillips
JS J. Smith
KH K. Huerter
LB L. Ball
MB M. Buzelis
NV N. Vučević
TJ T. Jones
VU Vucevic
ZC Z. Collins
NYK/CHI 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
Towns and Brunson help Knicks edge Bulls 113-111 in overtime
NEW YORK -- — Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 18 rebounds, Jalen Brunson added 22 points and 12 assists and the New York Knicks edged the Chicago Bulls 113-111 in overtime Thursday night.
Miles McBride finished with 22 points, while Mikal Bridges had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the short-handed Knicks, who improved to 36-18 in their first game following the All-Star break.
New York, which has won three straight and nine of 11, was without Josh Hart , who was held out due to pain in his right kneecap. OG Anunoby missed his sixth consecutive game because of a sprained right foot.
Josh Giddey had 27 points and 16 rebounds and Nikola Vucevic had 21 points for the Bulls, who have lost their last five games.
Vucevic had a chance to win with 2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but had his shot blocked by Bridges under the basket.
Giddey opened overtime with a 3-pointer before the Knicks responded with a 9-0 run, highlighted by three consecutive baskets from Towns.
Chicago pulled within 113-111 with two baskets from Colby White and had a chance to send the game into a second overtime when Vucevic missed an 8-foot jumper over Landry Shamet as time expired.
Takeaways Bulls: Reserve forward Jalen Smith was removed in the first quarter after suffering a face injury.
Knicks: Precious Achiuwa had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Key moment Vucevic’s 3-pointer put the Bulls ahead 104-102 with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Brunson then hit a stepback jumper over Ayo Dosunmu to tie it. On the ensuing possession, a kickball was called on the Knicks. Vucevic received the pass under the basket, but had the potential winning shot rejected by Bridges.
Key stat Towns was 2 for 15 from the field with six points in the first half. He scored 26 points on 12-for-15 shooting in the second half and overtime period.
Up next New York visits Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland on Friday. Chicago will host Phoenix on Saturday.