Short-handed Knicks need overtime to dodge Bulls

Field Level Media|published: Thu 20th February, 22:32 2025

Feb 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White (0) and New York Knicks point guard Cameron Payne (1) and center Ariel Hukporti (55) battle for a rebound during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Miles McBride hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:58 left in overtime to begin the decisive run for the undermanned New York Knicks, who withstood one more comeback attempt by the visiting Chicago Bulls to earn a 113-111 win.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored the next six points to close out the 9-0 run for the Knicks, who led 113-106 with 1:15 remaining before Coby White scored the next five points for the Bulls.

McBride missed a shot as the shot clock expired with 26 seconds left, but the ball bounced off Bulls guard Lonzo Ball. Jalen Brunson then missed a long 3-pointer and Matas Buzelis grabbed the rebound before Chicago called timeout with eight seconds remaining.

White was pressured by Precious Achiuwa before dishing into the lane to Nikola Vucevic, whose turnaround shot over Landry Shamet grazed the bottom of the net as time expired.

Towns (32 points, 18 rebounds), Brunson (22 points, 12 assists) and Mikal Bridges (13 points, 10 rebounds) all had double-doubles for the Knicks, who extended their winning streak to three games despite the absence of OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. Anunoby has missed the last five contests with a right foot sprain while Hart was sidelined with a knee injury.

Bridges also blocked Vucevic's potential game-winning layup just before the buzzer in regulation.

Josh Giddey (27 points, 16 rebounds) had a double-double for the Bulls, who have lost five straight. Vucevic finished with 21 points and nine rebounds while Ball (14 points), reserve Julian Phillips (12) and White (11) all reached double figures.

The Knicks led by as many as 11 in the second and by 10 in the third before Kevin Huerter's 3-pointer with two seconds left pulled the Bulls within 83-81. New York took a 92-85 lead on Shamet's 3-pointer with 9:12 remaining before Chicago scored the next nine points and took the lead on Phillips' free throws with 6:10 left.

The teams traded the lead on five consecutive possessions before Brunson's stepback jumper tied the score at 104-104 with 29 seconds left. Ball missed a wide-open 3-pointer with seven seconds left before Bridges blocked Vucevic's layup.

--Field Level Media

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