The New York Knicks staged a remarkable comeback on Wednesday night, overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat the Chicago Bulls 133-127. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 38 points, supported by significant second-half contributions from Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Tyler Kolek, who combined for 52 points after halftime. Mikal Bridges, who has struggled early in the season, saw his playing time significantly reduced, particularly in the second half.
Clarkson was a pivotal scorer off the bench, contributing 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Shamet added 14 points and five assists, while Kolek dished out nine assists to complement his nine points. The Knicks' victory marked their second consecutive win, improving their record to 2-3.
The game was a tale of two halves for the Knicks, who found themselves trailing by as many as 19 points in the third quarter. A crucial stretch in the fourth quarter, highlighted by timely plays from Shamet and Clarkson, helped New York close the gap. Despite a late scare where Karl-Anthony Towns missed a layup with 25 seconds remaining and Norman Powell missed a potential game-tying three-pointer for the Bulls, Brunson secured the win with free throws.
Bridges played only 13 minutes, his shortest appearance this season outside of brief substitutions to maintain his consecutive games streak. He scored just three points. OG Anunoby also spent time on the bench in the closing minutes as head coach Mike Brown opted to ride with the hot hands of Shamet and Clarkson.
The Knicks were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, having arrived in Chicago after a late game in New York and landing only about 15 hours before tipoff. Their initial performance reflected this fatigue, marked by sloppy play in the first half. A controversial sequence at the end of the second quarter saw an Andre Drummond tip-in waved off, followed by a Bulls half-court shot at the buzzer, giving Chicago a six-point lead at halftime.
Chicago extended its lead in the third quarter, reaching an 87-68 advantage. However, key plays from reserve guard Tyler Kolek, including two three-pointers, helped the Knicks trim the deficit to six points heading into the final quarter.
Earlier in the game, Karl-Anthony Towns experienced an injury scare in the first quarter when he was knocked hard to the court by an opponent. He briefly went to the locker room but returned with his hand and wrist taped. Towns finished the game with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Landry Shamet also briefly left the game in the second quarter with an ankle twist but returned to play.