On a night when the big news across basketball was the Bulls waiving Jaden Ivey for expressing his religious beliefs, the Knicks got crushed by the Rockets in Houston, 111-94.
Ivey was waived for talking against the NBA promoting LBGT and Pride Month in the NBA — which is against his Christian religion. Ivey’s complaint seemed to be that the NBA overdoes it with Gay Pride month — blasting it in everyone’s face. “They proclaim it on the billboards; they proclaim it in the streets,” said Ivey. Afterwards, Ivey wondered how what he did was “conduct detrimental to the team” as the Bulls stated.
NBA fans and social media pundits slammed the NBA all night — saying even if you disagree with Ivey, he deserves his freedom of speech — the same Freedom of Speech (1st Amendment) that has allowed NBA coaches Greg Popovich, Doc Rivers, and Steve Kerr to regularly get up on the post-game podium and throw down false charges against President Donald Trump and his administration. Kerr recently falsely accused ICE of murdering a woman in Chicago.
With that backdrop — the Knicks got clobbered by the Houston Rockets. NY fell behind by 17-3 and by 29-12 (17 pts) before the 1st quarter ended. NY closed the gap to 13 at the half and to 8 early in the 3rd quarter — but Houston pulled away again on the hot shooting of Kevin Durant and team — and led by 20 after 3 quarters. NY was never in it in the 4th.
It was the 3rd straight double-digit loss by the Knicks on this roadtrip — the first 2 losses to Charlotte and Oklahoma City. The Knicks look like they are fading heading into the playoffs — their mojo is gone. Some Knick fans are pining for Tom Thibodeau.
Afterwards, coach Mike Brown did some finger pointing at the players again: “Obviously, we got down big to start the game. I hate to sound like a broken record, but you do that against a good team and it’s hard to come back.”
NY drops to 48-28; Houston improves to 46-29.
1. Houston Jumps Out to 17-3 Lead on Shooting by Durant & Team
Houston jumped out to a 17-3 lead as Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson were getting early buckets, joined in by Alperen Sengun for a 17-3 lead.
Then Tari Eason scored 7 consecutive points for the Rockets (a 3 and two buckets inside) and they were up 24-8.
Amen Thompson gave Jalen Brunson a hard time all night defensively — Brunson
An Amen Thompson dunk with 4:50 left in the 1st put Houston up 29-12. Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado came in off the bench for NY and started to make some noise — but Reed Sheppard hit back with a 3. Houston was up by 16 pts after the 1st quarter.
2. Alvarado Sparks NY — Knicks Pull to Within 4 in 2nd Quarter
NY scored 7 straight points to start the 2nd quarter — a 3 by Alvarado, bucket by OG Anunoby, and deuce by Clarkson — to pull within 9. Houston timeout.
jose bringing the energy and efficiency 🔋
📊 8 PTS | 100% FG | 4 min pic.twitter.com/vofI6YVbyI
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 1, 2026
Another 7-0 Knick run — a 3 by Alvarado, free throws by KAT, and a bucket by Clarkson — pulled NY within 4 pts at 39-35 — and it was starting to look like NY would take this game.
3. Houston Goes Back Up by 13 at Half
But that was as close as the Knicks would get.
Houston pushed back with an 11-0 run — buckets by Jabari Smith Jr. Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard (a 3 and a deuce) to push their lead back to 15 pts.
Miles McBride hit a 3 but Reed Sheppard and Kevin Durant countered with deuces and Houston pushed their lead to 16 pts. Durant continued to be on his game — scoring deuces inside — as Houston ran their lead to 19 pts.
Consecutive 3’s by Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby pulled NY back within 13 at the half.
OG beats the buzzer 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BKVUsiZ3xH
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 1, 2026
4. KAT Pulls Knicks Within 8 with 8 Minutes Left in 3rd
Karl-Anthony Towns came out a man possessed to start the 3rd quarter — getting free throws on a drive inside, hitting a 3, then getting more free throws as he attacked relentlessly and carried the Knick offense.
A KAT drive pulled NY within 69-61. It was 9 straight KAT pts for NY.
5. Houston Pushes Back to 20-Pt Lead After 3
But Amen Thompson dunked off a Tari Eason assist, Kevin Durant hit a 3, and Jabari Smith hit a 3 — 8 straight Houston points — and NY was down 16 again just like that.
Josh Hart — left alone by the Houston defense — kept missing open 3’s — a rough shooting night for him after going 5-5 from 3 the prior game against Oklahoma.
Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. continued to pepper NY from 2 and from 3 as Houston built their lead to 20 pts entering the 4th quarter — 92-72.
6. Houston Cruises in 4th
Jose Alvarado and KAT sparked the Knicks a bit at the start of the 4th quarter — and OG hit a 3 to pull NY within 15 — but Houston had answers and quickly pushed their lead back to 20, which they maintained throughout the quarter.
NY had no MOJO and looked like a defeated team.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810957
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