Houston RocketsOpen full analysis
New York KnicksOpen full analysis
The New York Knicks edged the Houston Rockets 108–106 on February 21 at Madison Square Garden in a defensive struggle that finished well below the Vegas total of 220.5 points. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 25 points while OG Anunoby added 20, as New York shot 49.4 percent from the field and made 10 three-pointers. Kevin Durant paced Houston with 30 points and Jalen Smith Jr. contributed 21, though the Rockets' 19 turnovers proved costly despite their 12 made threes and 44-rebound advantage. The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter, when the Knicks outscored Houston 33–15, a 18-point swing that erased a second-quarter deficit in which the Rockets had exploded for 33 points. New York's defense tightened significantly down the stretch, holding a 113.6 offensive rating while limiting Houston to 110.3, with 11 steals punctuating the effort. The Knicks' two-point victory improves their positioning in the Eastern Conference race, while Houston's turnover-plagued performance raises questions about ball security heading into the stretch run.
