Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks Past Kings as New York Pulls Away Late at Madison Square Garden

New York — Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and directed a dominant fourth quarter as the New York Knicks pulled away from the Sacramento Kings for a 103 to 87 win Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, extending New York’s winning streak to three games in a breaking update for both teams’ season trajectories.

The Knicks entered the final period tied at 72 before outscoring Sacramento 31 to 15, flipping a tight contest into a decisive result. Brunson controlled the tempo late, combining shot creation with timely scoring as New York tightened defensively and capitalized on Sacramento’s perimeter struggles.

Mikal Bridges added 18 points, while Karl Anthony Towns finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his 11th double double of the season. OG Anunoby chipped in 15 points, including a momentum swinging dunk during a decisive 13 to 0 run that sealed the outcome. Despite committing 21 turnovers, the Knicks limited the damage by holding the Kings to 16.7 percent shooting from three point range.

Sacramento was led by DeMar DeRozan, who poured in 34 points but received limited offensive support. Russell Westbrook added 14 points, though he and DeRozan combined to shoot 3 for 16 from beyond the arc. The Kings finished 5 for 30 from deep, a key factor in their sixth straight loss and a growing concern in the latest timeline of a season that has slipped below expectations.

The fourth quarter turned quickly. Towns opened the period with a three pointer and later hit another to punctuate an 8 to 2 Knicks run. DeRozan briefly cut the margin to 90 to 85, but Brunson responded with a three and two straight baskets. After a technical foul on Sacramento, Brunson added a free throw and capped the surge with another three pointer to stretch the lead to 103 to 85, effectively ending the contest.

The win also carried added significance on the sideline. Head coach Mike Brown earned his first victory as Knicks coach against the Kings, the franchise that dismissed him last season. Brown was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2023 after guiding Sacramento to its first playoff appearance in 16 years, making the result a notable moment in his New York tenure and part of the broader impact narrative surrounding the Knicks’ recent coaching change.

From a season outlook perspective, New York continues to build continuity with its core of Brunson, Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby, showing improved late game execution that has been inconsistent at times this year. Sacramento, meanwhile, faces growing questions about spacing, shot selection, and lineup balance as losses mount and playoff positioning slips further out of reach.

Next steps see the Kings traveling to Philadelphia on Thursday as they look to halt their skid, while the Knicks head north to face Toronto on Wednesday, aiming to extend their momentum as the schedule tightens.