Knicks Rally Past Rockets: Comeback From 18-Point Fourth-Quarter Deficit

New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns all claimed narrow NBA wins on 22 February, with New York overturning a huge late deficit, San Antonio stretching a winning streak and Phoenix surviving double overtime thanks to Jalen Green’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.

The Suns edged the Orlando Magic 113-110 in double overtime after a tense finish. Green had struggled most of the night but struck with a corner three on the final play, moments after Jalen Carter had levelled the game for Orlando with 1.1 seconds left.

Green finished with 16 points, hitting only 6 of 26 field-goal attempts and 2 of 6 free throws. The decisive basket was just the second made three from 11 attempts. Phoenix played without Devin Booker, who is ruled out for at least a week because of a right hip strain.

Grayson Allen carried much of the Suns’ offence with 27 points after returning from a sprained right ankle that cost four games. Allen scored all seven Phoenix points in the first overtime. Collin Gillespie added 19 points. For Orlando, Desmond Bane led all scorers with 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting before fouling out early in overtime.

Paolo Banchero added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic, who pushed Phoenix deep into the second extra period. Dillon Brooks played only seven minutes for the Suns before leaving. Reports stated Brooks had suffered a broken hand and would miss significant time.

Earlier, the Knicks recovered from blowing a 13-point first-half advantage and then trailing by 18 in the fourth quarter to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-106. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points, while Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each contributed 20 points.

Mikal Bridges added 11 points as New York responded strongly two nights after a poor defeat against Eastern Conference leaders Detroit. Houston’s attack centred on Kevin Durant, who scored 30 points, and Jabari Smith Jr., who finished with 21, as the Rockets entered the game on a five-match winning run.

The Rockets seemed in control early in the fourth quarter before New York surged. The Knicks started with an 8-1 burst, but Smith briefly halted that spell with a three-pointer from in front of the Houston bench. Houston then missed eight straight shots and committed two turnovers.

New York capitalised with a 14-2 run, capped by a Towns layup off the glass that reduced the gap to 99-97 with 3:32 remaining. Brunson later hit a jumper to level the score at 103 with 1:26 left. Durant then lost the ball by the sideline and was called for an offensive foul on the following possession after colliding with Brunson.

Brunson answered with a pull-up jumper that put the Knicks ahead for good. Durant still had a final opportunity, launching a 40-foot attempt at the buzzer, but the shot missed. New York closed out an important road victory after a turbulent final period.

NBA New York Knicks San Antonio Spurs Phoenix Suns scoreboard and streaks

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In Austin, the Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 139-122 to secure an eighth straight win and complete a two-game sweep in the Texas capital. Victor Wembanyama dominated with 28 points and 15 rebounds, adding six assists and four blocks in an all-round display.

DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson each scored 18 points for San Antonio as the Spurs’ offence spread the workload around Wembanyama. Sacramento, already without Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine after season-ending surgeries, fell to a franchise-record 16th consecutive defeat.

Keegan Murray and DeMar DeRozan each scored 20 points for the struggling Kings, who again lacked depth in key moments. Malik Monk added 19 points, while rookie Maxime Raynaud, from Stanford and a long-time friend of Wembanyama from France, contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds in a productive performance.

The night’s results underlined contrasting trends. The Knicks steadied after a setback against Detroit, the Suns survived without Devin Booker thanks to late shooting, and the Spurs maintained strong momentum, while the Kings’ losing run and Houston’s halted streak highlighted ongoing struggles.