The Knicks, back to full strength after missing Jalen Brunson for the past two games, reached the halfway point of the season's 41-game season with a bounce-back victory at the Garden.
On Wednesday, on Tom Thibodeau's 66th birthday, Brunson returned from a calf injury in the Knicks' 109-94 victory over the Rockets, scoring 30 points and dishing out seven assists in 37 minutes.
Julius Randle had 31 points and eight rebounds, and OG Anunoby had 15 points and four steals, contributing to the Knicks' seventh win in nine games (24-17). They will play the Wizards at MSG on Thursday night before RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. He returns to New York with the Raptors on Saturday.
Like Brunson, Josh Hart also had a strong performance with 10 points and 13 boards in 30 minutes after being listed as questionable with a knee issue.
After signing former All-Star guards Fred VanVleet (24 points) and Dillon Brooks and hiring former Celtics coach I'm Udoka in the offseason, the improved Rockets are still 19-21, a loss from last season. They are only three wins shy of their total win total.
“I think they added some really quality defensive players,” Thibodeau said before the game. “VanVleet is very disruptive and Dillon Brooks is very good. They did a really good job of keeping the ball out of the paint. Those are the things they're good at. They have athleticism. is high, so you have to take care of the ball and trust the pass.”
Brunson made his first two 3-pointers, but the Knicks made 3 of 10 from deep in a slow first quarter.
Randle's 10 points kept the Knicks within two points, 25-23, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Jaylen Green each scored seven points for Houston.
Hart tied the Knicks with a drive to the hoop in the first minute of the second game, Quentin Grimes sank five free throws and the Knicks held on in the second quarter to go up 10-2.
Grimes made another 3-pointer late in the period and Randle completed a dunk off a steal by Donte DiVincenzo, giving the Knicks a 48-46 advantage going into intermission.
Randle's 3-pointer and Brunson's classic 3-point play early in the third allowed the Knicks to extend their cushion to six points.
Anunoby hit back-to-back corner treys and added an inside bucket to extend the lead to 64-55, and Randle hit his second 3-pointer just four minutes into the session to push the score to double digits.
After trailing by seven points in the fourth quarter against the Magic on Monday, the Knicks now led by eight going into the final 12 minutes.
Grimes (11 points) connected again from long range early in the fourth for 13 points, and the Rockets were within nine points remaining.
Anunoby clinched the victory with a two-handed shot off a Randle feed and a free throw, making it a 96-81 game with five minutes remaining.
