Knicks Crush Kings With Late Surge for Third Straight Win
The New York Knicks turned a tight contest into a decisive statement late on Tuesday night, overpowering the Sacramento Kings 103–87 at Madison Square Garden with a ruthless fourth-quarter surge that delivered their third consecutive NBA victory.
Tied at 72 entering the final period, the Knicks closed the game with a 31–15 blitz, transforming balance into separation and reaffirming their growing confidence midway through the regular season.
A Fourth Quarter That Changed Everything
The contest unfolded like a tug of war for three quarters. Sacramento trimmed an early New York lead, edged the second quarter, and matched the Knicks basket for basket after halftime. But when it mattered most, the Kings’ resistance unraveled.
Karl-Anthony Towns ignited the final quarter with a three-pointer, setting the tone for an aggressive Knicks spell that combined sharp execution with defensive pressure. The decisive stretch came midway through the fourth, when New York rattled off a 13–0 run—punctuated by timely scoring, a fast-break dunk, and back-to-back three-pointers—that stretched the lead beyond reach.
For Sacramento, the collapse was swift and unforgiving, undoing what had been a competitive night.
Brunson Sets the Pace
At the heart of New York’s control was Jalen Brunson, who delivered 28 points with the calm authority of a seasoned floor general. His shot-making in the closing minutes steadied the Knicks and silenced any hope of a Kings comeback.
Brunson was well supported. Mikal Bridges added 18 points, while Towns posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. OG Anunoby chipped in 15 points, giving the Knicks multiple scoring threats as Sacramento’s defense faltered.
Despite committing 21 turnovers, New York compensated with efficient shooting—nearly 47 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three-point range—and near-perfect work at the free-throw line.
DeRozan Shines Amid Kings’ Struggles
For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan delivered a lone standout performance, pouring in 34 points and carrying the offensive load for long stretches. Yet his efforts masked deeper issues that surfaced late.
Sacramento’s perimeter shooting deserted them when it counted. The Kings finished a cold 5-of-30 from beyond the arc, a statistic that loomed large as New York packed the paint and dared shooters to convert.
The loss marked Sacramento’s sixth straight defeat, extending a difficult stretch in a season that has offered little margin for error.
Momentum and Meaning
The victory lifted the Knicks to 28–18, strengthening their position in the Eastern Conference and reinforcing a narrative of steady improvement built on late-game composure. For a team that has often lived and died by close finishes in recent years, this emphatic close served as a marker of growth.
The Kings, now 12–36, continue searching for answers as inconsistency and missed opportunities pile up. Their ability to compete through three quarters showed resilience; their fade in the fourth underscored unresolved flaws.
Why It Resonates Beyond New York
While the game unfolded thousands of miles from Malta, its rhythms are familiar to basketball fans everywhere. For local enthusiasts following the NBA through late-night streams and morning highlights, the matchup was a reminder of how quickly elite games can turn—sometimes in the space of a single quarter.
With the Knicks carrying momentum into their next outing in Toronto and the Kings headed to Philadelphia still in search of stability, the season’s long arc continues. On this night, though, it belonged to New York—and to a fourth quarter that told the whole story.
