Coby White set a career-high with nine 3-pointers and Zach LaVine had 33 points, as the Chicago Bulls rallied to defeat the New York Knicks 139-126 on a memorable Saturday night. The win capped an emotional day for the franchise, which honored hometown legend Derrick Rose at halftime. The Bulls announced that Rose’s No. 1 jersey will join Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan, and Bob Love in the United Center rafters next season.
The Knicks, led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ dominant 44-point, 16-rebound performance, appeared in control early, taking a nine-point lead into halftime. Jalen Brunson added 33 points, while Josh Hart grabbed 16 rebounds. However, New York fell apart in the third quarter, where Chicago outscored them 41-17.
The turning point came with the game tied at 84 in the third quarter. The Bulls launched a 20-3 run in the final four minutes, punctuated by a layup from Vucevic, giving Chicago a commanding 104-87 lead heading into the fourth. The Bulls maintained their momentum, securing their second win in three games.
Chicago’s sharp shooting proved decisive, as they drained 20-of-37 attempts from beyond the arc, outpacing New York’s cold second-half effort. While the Knicks have yet to lose more than two consecutive games this season, this marked their second straight defeat after a nine-game winning streak. Let’s grade the Knicks players for their performances tonight.
Karl-Anthony Towns: A+
Stats: 44 PTS, 16 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 17-29 FG, 3-7 3PT, 7-10 FT, -5, 37 MIN
Towns delivered an outstanding performance, carrying the Knicks offensively with a season-high 44 points and 16 rebounds. He was dominant in the post and effective from mid-range, shooting 17-of-29 from the field. Despite the Knicks’ struggles, Towns’ ability to facilitate (5 assists) and consistently score kept the team competitive until late in the third quarter. His 3 turnovers were minimal given his usage, and his performance was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing loss.
Jalen Brunson: A+
Stats: 33 PTS, 2 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 11-20 FG, 1-4 3PT, 10-11 FT, -18, 33 MIN
Brunson was excellent, scoring 33 points with remarkable efficiency (11-of-20 from the field, 10-of-11 free throws) and adding 8 assists. He provided much-needed playmaking and was a steady presence throughout the game, especially during New York’s early surge. However, his impact diminished as the Bulls’ defense tightened in the second half, and he couldn’t quite rally the Knicks late.
Josh Hart: B
Stats: 2 PTS, 16 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 0-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, -14, 40 MIN
Hart was a monster on the boards, grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds, and showcased his versatility with 10 assists. However, his shooting woes were glaring as he failed to make a field goal (0-of-5) and contributed only 2 points. While his hustle and effort were evident, the Knicks needed more scoring from him to stay in the game.
Mikal Bridges: B
Stats: 18 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 8-18 FG, 0-5 3PT, 2-3 FT, -21, 33 MIN
Bridges had a solid outing with 18 points, though his efficiency (8-of-18 shooting) was below his usual standards. His inability to connect from deep (0-of-5) hurt the Knicks as they struggled to match the Bulls’ three-point barrage. Despite his scoring, Bridges’ defense wasn’t impactful enough to slow Chicago’s perimeter attack.
OG Anunoby: C+
Stats: 12 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 5-12 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-1 FT, -8, 32 MIN
Anunoby’s 12 points and 5 rebounds were modest contributions, but he struggled with turnovers (3) and couldn’t find his rhythm offensively, shooting 5-of-12. While he played solid defense, his inability to make a significant impact on either end of the court left the Knicks wanting more.
Cameron Payne: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 0 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 3-5 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 14 MIN
Payne provided a scoring spark off the bench with 8 points on efficient shooting (3-of-5, including 2-of-3 from deep). However, his limited minutes (14) and defensive lapses prevented him from having a more significant influence on the game.
Precious Achiuwa: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -3, 27 MIN
Achiuwa contributed 5 points and 5 rebounds but had minimal impact overall. While he was perfect from the field (2-of-2), his lack of offensive involvement and defensive inconsistency left him largely ineffective during his 27 minutes.
Landry Shamet: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 17 MIN
Shamet chipped in 4 points but struggled with efficiency, going 2-of-6 from the field and missing both his three-point attempts. His defensive contributions were limited, and he didn’t provide enough offensive spark to help the Knicks close the gap.
Matt Ryan: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN
Ryan played only 2 minutes and recorded 1 rebound. His limited action did not provide enough opportunity for meaningful impact.
Jacob Toppin: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN
Toppin also played just 2 minutes with no statistical contributions. He was not on the court long enough to affect the game.
Jericho Sims: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN
Sims, like Toppin, logged 2 minutes and did not register any stats. His role in the game was purely situational.
Tyler Kolek: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN
Kolek played 2 minutes but had no chance to make an impact, failing to record any stats during his brief time on the court.
