Towns Leads Knicks’ Comeback: “This Group Is Growing”

For three quarters, it looked like a faded copy of Thursday’s heavy loss. Then, suddenly, Madison Square Garden found its energy again. The New York Knicks erased an 18-point deficit and beat the Houston Rockets 108-106 with a 33-15 fourth quarter that brought back memories of the consistency they showed last season.

The unquestioned star was Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 27 points and, more importantly, delivered a clear message in the locker room before the final quarter: “It starts with defense”.

Towns Sparks the Comeback

After 36 sluggish minutes, with boos from the crowd underscoring the frustration, it was Towns who changed the tone of the night. Head coach Mike Brown explained what happened during the timeout between the third and fourth quarters:

I was drawing up an offensive play, then KAT stepped in: ‘It starts with defense. We need a stop.’ From there, he took control, set the tone and pulled everyone to that side of the floor.

Mike Brown

The spark came immediately: Towns forced a tough shot from Alperen Sengun to open the quarter and the Knicks began to run. The offense clicked, the defensive pressure increased and the Garden came alive.

I told my teammates we could win it, we’ve done it before. I wanted to set the tone, raise the intensity for 12 minutes.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Clear Hierarchy

Before the game, Brown had openly defined the pecking order: Jalen Brunson as the first option, Towns right behind him, then everyone else. A firm stance, especially considering that in recent weeks Towns had admitted he didn’t feel fully comfortable in the offensive system.

His shooting percentages and attempts are down compared to his personal standards and the production during the Tom Thibodeau era, but against Houston his presence was decisive, particularly when the Rockets consistently sent double teams at Brunson.

With the point guard scoreless early on, Towns poured in 11 points to keep New York within striking distance. Then, in the fourth quarter, Brunson caught fire: 20 points to close the game with seven assists, a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the final period, including the go-ahead shot.

Alvarado and Anunoby: Energy That Shifts Momentum

It wasn’t just the stars. Trade addition Jose Alvarado provided a major defensive jolt: his second game with five steals in a Knicks uniform, three of them in the final 12 minutes. The impact of OG Anunoby was steady as well, crucial in keeping pressure on opposing perimeter players.

We kept searching for combinations until we found the right one. With Jose, we found the spark. I liked the group’s perseverance: we could’ve folded, but we didn’t.

Mike Brown

A Win That Reignites the Knicks

The comeback against Houston wipes away the bad taste left by the loss to the Detroit Pistons, leaders in the East, and restores confidence ahead of the road trip that will begin in Chicago.

Towns called the win a “team victory”:

Forty-eight hours ago we didn’t play our best game. Tonight we showed resilience, even when we weren’t at our best. It’s a sign of this group’s growth.

Karl-Anthony Towns

And perhaps, more than the 27 points or the final run, that’s the most significant takeaway: when the Garden started to boo, the Knicks chose to respond.