Taking Care of Business. NY 105 Chicago 99

February 23, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Jalen Brunson (19 pts) drives against Josh Giddey. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks slipped out of town after the big come-from-behind win over Houston, and flew out to Chicago — escaping the massive blizzard bearing down on NYC — and took care of business by beating the Bulls 105-99 on a Sunday night — extending Chicago’s losing streak to 9 straight games.

NY established a 10-pt lead in the 3rd quarter, but Chicago slipped back into the game and took a 95-94 lead with 3:46 left in the 4th — before NY put the hammer down and won — Karl-Anthony Towns scoring 6 straight points on a 3 and a drive-and-1, Mikal Bridges sticking a 3 from the corner off a nifty Jalen Brunson pass, and Brunson hitting 2 clutch free throws to ice it.

KAT led NY with his second straight great game in the back-to-back, scoring 28 pts on 10-17 shooting (5-9 from 3) with 11 rebounds and a +13. Brunson had 19 pts (on 7-19 shooting, 1-6 from 3, +14), and Landry Shamet excelled again with 16 pts on 5-9 shooting (4-8 from 3). Josh Hart rebounded from his poor shooting game to score 11 pts on 4-5 shooting (1-1 from 3) in 33 minutes and a +16.

Mikal Bridges (11 pts on 4-10 shooting and a +5) and OG Anunoby (9 pts on 4-11 shooting and a +17) contributed greatly as well. Mitchell Robinson was out for scheduled rest in the back-to-back; Ariel Hukporti played 15 minutes and did well. Jeremy Sochan (11 min) took Mohamed Diawara‘s place in the rotation.

Yabusele Reunion

Chicago — which had also played the night before — announced before the game that Josh Giddey (6 pts in 26 minutes), Jalen Smith (12 pts in 18 min), and Tre Jones (8 pts in 23 min) were on minutes restrictions.  Guerschon Yabusele starred for the Bulls with 11 pts on 4-8 shooting (3-6 from 3) and 13 rebounds in 30 minutes as a starter. He and his former teammates had friendly mana-a-mano, one-upmanship moments on the court all evening.

KAT Answers Shaq

“I understand more than ever now in my career that winning trump’s everything,” said KAT afterwards. “That’s why I’m so adamant about our team staying together, having that continuity, having that unity — nothing detearing us or dividing us on this team. It’s a special team; we have a special group of guys, and for us to win it’s going to take all of us to win a championship.”

“I’m so blessed that I have these guys in the lockerroom,” continued KAT, “And I have my support system, my family, my fiancee that are pushing me to another level even from last year to do what’s needed for this team to win — whether that’s to sacrifice more like this year, or like in these last 2 games when I’m touching the basketball I got to make the shots — and I’m glad I was able to do that for my teammates so we can win these games.”

This was a direct answer to Shaquille O’Neal CRAPPING on him after the interview in the Houston post-game the night before. KAT’s answers to Shaq were great — he agreed with Shaq Twice that he needs to lead for NY to win a title. But KAT started a 2nd conversation — about it being about winning & team. After KAT was off air, Shaq blasted KAT’s personality as too nice-guy.

NY improves to 37-21, and remain in 3rd place, a game behind Boston and 6.5 behind Detroit. Chicago — in full tank mode after trading Nikola Vucevic to Boston — falls to 24-34.

1. Chicago Pulls Out to 8-Pt Lead in 2nd

Both teams were coming off games the night before — and played a decent brand of basketball through the first half. Josh Hart came out hitting shots — looking intent to make up for his poor shooting game of the night before.

NY jumped out to a 9-3 lead, but Chicago came right back on a couple of 3’s by Yabusele and a bucket inside by Patrick Williams. Isaac Okoro and Nick Richards added bucket-and-1’s and Chicago took a 27-25 lead after 1.

Yabusele hit another 3 early in the 2nd, Matas Buzelis — Chicago’s leading scorer with 15 pts — added buckets as did Josh Giddey and Jalen Smith and Chicago went up by 8 pts at 42-34.

2. NY Pulls within 53-52 at Half

But KAT pushed back with a 3, NY tightened their D, and got buckets from Hart, Brunson, Jose Alvarado to pull close.

Consecutive 3’s by Landry Shamet pulled NY into a tie at 52-52 with 31 seconds left in the half.

KAT fouled Rob Dillingham taking a 2 with .2 seconds left — fortunately for NY, Dillingham only hit 1 of 3 free throws and Chicago went into the break up by a point.

3. Knicks Take 13-Pt Lead in 3rd

NY came out and took control in the 3rd — on early 3’s by Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, and then buckets by OG, Brunson, and Bridges — giving NY a 71-61 lead with 8 minutes left in the period.

NY extended the lead to 13 pts on a Shamet 3, and led 78-65 with 2:22 left in the quarter after an Ariel Huckporti alley-oop dunk off an Alvarado pass.

4. Chicago Pulls within 5 after 3

Matas Buzelis hit a 3-and-1 — fouled by Hukporti — but Shamet answered with a 3 and NY was still on top by 11 with 1:27 left in the period.

NY had a 10-pt lead with 39 seconds left in the 3rd when Patrick Williams hit a 3 and then Dillingham tipped back in an offensive rebound with 2.3 seconds left for 5 straight pts and Chicago was back in the game, down 5 entering the 4th.

5. Chicago Takes 95-94 Lead with 3:42 Left

KAT, OG, and Shamet continued to get buckets for NY early in the 4th to push NY’s lead back to 8 — but Collin Sexton hit a couple of 3’s — the second one being a 3-and-1 and Chicago was right back in it at 94-92 with 5:31 left.

Then Buzelis hit a 3 and Chicago had a 95-94 lead with 3:46 left.

6. KAT and Brunson Lay Hammer Down

That’s when KAT rose up — hitting a 3 to put NY back on top, then faking a 3 and driving the lane for a SLAM next time down — and it was 99-95 NY.

NY defense doubled down — and KAT again powered inside next time down, and was fouled. He hit 1 of 2 free throws and it was 100-95 NY.

Josh Giddey scored on a drive off a timeout to pull Chicago within 100-97.

Brunson to Mikal for Dagger 3

But Brunson penetrated the lane, drew 3 defenders, and fed Mikal Bridges who stuck a 3 from the corner and it was goodnight Chicago — NY 103 Chicago 97 with 26 seconds left.

Chicago got a bucket from Jones, but Brunson made 2 clutch free throws with 14 seconds left for the ballgame.

“Jalen Brunson has won at all levels as he beats you in so many ways,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “And it’s not always his scoring and hitting big shots but it’s also making the right play and the right pass at the right moment as he does here with a penetrate and kick that leads to a open Bridges 3. Winner.”

7. Yabusele Reunion

All night long the Knicks’ players and Yabusele were having friendly but competitive mano-a-mano fun on the court.

There was Josh Hart shooting Yabusele in the head after hitting a 3.

Yabusele mocking Bridges’ celebration moves:

And all in all a lot of love between former teammates:

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810680

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