On October 29, 2026, the New York Knicks secured a 133-127 comeback victory over the Chicago Bulls, overcoming a 19-point deficit. Head coach Mike Brown benched veteran forward Mikal Bridges for most of the second half, limiting him to 13 minutes after the reserve unit sparked the turnaround.
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- Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson: Both guards delivered key production off the bench during the team’s comeback win.
Mike Brown Alters the Rotation During the Comeback
The New York Knicks needed a spark after falling behind by 19 points during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls. Head coach Mike Brown answered the deficit by fundamentally altering his rotation pattern. Instead of sticking rigidly with his usual rotation, Brown turned to Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet.
That bench unit completely shifted the momentum of the floor. The three reserves combined for 41 points and 15 assists, injecting much-needed pace into New York’s half-court execution. Kolek orchestrated the offense with nine points and nine assists, while Clarkson poured in 18 points—including 12 in the final frame. Shamet chipped in 14 points and five assists to stretch the floor on the perimeter.
Mikal Bridges played just 13 minutes tonight, his lowest as a Knick by a large marginPrevious low was 19 min in the Knicks' first-round Game 4 win over Atlanta pic.twitter.com/cEDt8LYnWR
For Bridges, the shift meant an unaccustomed seat on the bench. The veteran forward logged just 13 minutes of total floor time, registering only three minutes in the second half. He finished the night with three points on 1-of-4 shooting. This marked his shortest appearance since joining New York, excluding brief stints kept strictly to preserve his consecutive-games streak.
Brown explained postgame that the productive rhythm of the reserve units left no tactical justification for disrupting the floor balance. The bold gamble paid off as the Knicks erased the margin to seal their second victory in as many nights, following an exhausting back-to-back sequence that included a late arrival in Chicago.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns Lead the Offensive Charge
While the depth pieces unlocked the comeback, the front-line stars delivered the high-volume production necessary to finish the job. Jalen Brunson spearheaded the offensive attack with 38 points, pouring in 14 of them during a relentless fourth-quarter onslaught. Brunson connected on six of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc, continuously probing Chicago’s defense as New York erased the deficit.
Karl-Anthony Towns anchored the paint with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Towns managed this stat line despite suffering a minor injury scare after a hard fall in the opening quarter. Alongside Brunson, they ensured that the defensive lapses from the first half did not dictate the final outcome.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 38 | – | – | – |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 19 | 13 | – | – |
| Jordan Clarkson | 18 | – | – | – |
| Mikal Bridges | 3 | – | – | 13 |
The victory brought New York’s record to 2-3 as the team prepares to open NBA Cup play Friday against Philadelphia. The immediate priority is building on consecutive wins after a disappointing start to the season.
Bridges remains an important part of New York’s roster, and his ability to defend multiple positions has considerable value over a full season. Yet, the tactical message from the coaching staff remains unmistakable. Reputation alone will not secure closing minutes if alternative combinations generate superior results.
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