New York Knicks lose to the Houston Rockets 109-97: Losing on physicality

The New York Knicks started their road trip with a loss to the Houston Rockets, 109 to 97. Houston’s physicality kept the Knicks out of rhythm and struggling to catch up throughout the night.

The Knicks spent the night chasing Houston’s lead after Fred VanVleet started the game hot. They made runs to keep the game within reach, but the Rockets outworked New York whenever things got close.

Despite shooting just 38% from the field and losing the rebound battle 50 to 39, the Knicks had a chance to mount a comeback late in the fourth. But Jalen Brunson ran out of gas after playing the entire half.

Let’s discuss some key performers.

Notable Performances

A big game for one player, in particular

OG Anunoby: 21 pts (7/14 FG, 5/6 3PT, 2/3 FT), 2 AST, 6 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK in 39 mins

The Knicks wouldn’t have come close without OG Anunoby’s outsized impact. He hit four shots from long range in the first half and always seemed to hit shots when the Knicks began to struggle.

Anunoby didn’t have to press for offense. He hit the shots that came his way, and while 5 of 6 from three isn’t sustainable, the types of looks he got should be consistently available. 

OG’s defense lived up to its reputation, as well.

The Knicks’ leaders struggle for different reasons

Jalen Brunson: 29 PTS (9/24 FG, 2/4 3PT, 9/9 FT), 8 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 42 mins

The refs could have given Jalen Brunson a few more whistles. Houston played Brunson as physically as we’ve seen and got away with a ton of contact on his drives. 

But Brunson persevered, finding space to hit shots and whipping dimes through double-teams. Unfortunately, he ran out of steam in the second half. Brunson looked brilliant in the third quarter but faded in the fourth and forced shots late.

New York’s star is still getting used to the team around him. He’ll figure out ways to beat aggressive switching like we saw from Houston.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 17 PTS (7/17 FG, 0/2 3PT, 3/4 FT), 19 REB, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 32 mins

Houston’s defense wasn’t the problem for Karl-Anthony Towns, but foul trouble was. He struggled to contain Alperen Sengun and was in foul trouble throughout the first three quarters.

When Towns played, he battled in the post and feasted on the boards. But his defensive woes meant that Sengun matched and surpassed him every step of the way.

One good and one bad role player

Josh Hart: 12 PTS (4/9 FG, 0/2 3PT, 4/4 FT), 7 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 38 mins 

The Rockets sent double-teams off Josh Hart often. But Hart responded by making cuts to the basket and doing damage in the heart of the Rockets’ defense.

This is a rare night where Hart’s half-court offense looked better than his transition game. He often dribbled into contact, looking for whistles that never came. Hart even got a technical for complaining about the non-calls.

Miles McBride: 0 PTS (0/9 FG, 0/5 3PT), 2 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK 

Deuce McBride got the looks that he’s knocked down throughout this season. But he failed to convert a single shot, with his worst misses coming on fourth-quarter fast-break layup attempts.

Deuce played strong defense, at least, and threw a couple of clever passes. But the bench needed more with Cam Payne injured.

Other Notes

• Jericho Sims struggled in rim protection and was worse on the boards. He has to improve, or Hukporti will need another chance in the rotation.

• Tyler Kolek got five minutes in the second quarter and knocked down a three. But his defense failed, culminating when Amen Thompson stepped around him like a cone drill.

• Mikal Bridges' performance was disappointingly average. He finished with 15 points but turned the ball over four times without registering an assist.

Closing Thoughts

Scouting reports about the Knicks will say, “Beat them up” until New York figures out how to respond. Physical teams have managed to break up the Knicks’ offense.

We’ve seen moments where New York responds with quick decisions that defenders can’t keep up with. But they come in flashes rather than sustained runs.

It’s early, and I trust this team to figure it out. I’m also expecting a boost when Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson eventually return. The bench is thin right now, but those two will help in areas where the Knicks look weak.

There’s also the addition of Matt Ryan, a sharpshooter New York just signed. Help is on the way to fill the needs left in the rotation.

Atlanta is next, and they’ll be looking to bounce back from recent struggles. We’ll discuss it next time, Knicks fam.