NBA: Brunson scores 33 as Knicks rout Bulls 135-105

The New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls 135-105 on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at Madison Square Garden, in front of 19,812 spectators. Jalen Brunson carried New York with 33 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 28 minutes, without a single turnover. The Knicks led 84-52 at half-time.

New York played without Josh Hart, who was ruled out with an ankle injury. For Chicago, Nic Claxton was out with a hamstring problem. Zach Collins and Jalen Smith, listed as questionable on the injury report, ended up playing 14 and 7 minutes. The Knicks improve to 4-4 and sit 7th in the Eastern Conference. Chicago fall to 1-7 and are 14th in the East. The final margin, 30 points, was short of New York's biggest lead of the night, 44 points.

A 43-point first quarter

Chicago led in the opening minutes. The Bulls reached their biggest lead, two points, at 6-4 with 10:29 to play in the first quarter. New York responded immediately with an 8-0 run, from 4-6 to 12-6. The lead changed hands four times and the scores were level only once. The Knicks then won the first quarter 43-21.

The second quarter stretched the gap. New York went on a 9-0 run, from 60-36 to 69-36, starting with 6:38 left in the period. An 8-0 run followed at 2:52 before the break, from 70-41 to 78-41. The Knicks won the quarter 41-31 and went into the locker room at 84-52.

A 44-point lead, then a fourth quarter for Chicago

The third quarter was tighter, 29-27 to New York. The Knicks still reached their biggest lead there: 44 points, at 111-67, with 3:23 to play. They entered the final period leading 113-79.

Chicago won the fourth quarter 26-22, the only period the Bulls won. The final margin was 30 points, after a maximum of 44 points in the third quarter. Buddy Hield, +7 in 8 minutes, finished with the Bulls' best plus-minus.

New York's supporting cast

Brunson was the Knicks' first option: 33 points on 10 of 17 shooting, including 5 of 10 from three-point range, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. He finished at +33. Karl-Anthony Towns did not miss a field goal: 5 of 5, including 2 of 2 from deep, for 17 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes. His plus-minus, +34, was the best of the game. OG Anunoby added 18 points despite making 3 of 10 shots, thanks to 11 of 12 free throws. Mikal Bridges finished at +31 with 7 points and 4 assists.

The bench also counted. Jordan Clarkson and Dalton Knecht scored 10 points each, Knecht adding 7 rebounds. James Wiseman grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 3 shots in 10 minutes, Andre Drummond 9 rebounds in 12 minutes. Mohamed Diawara finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in 21 minutes.

As a team, New York shot 51%, making 44 of 87. The Knicks converted 30 of 37 free throws, against 21 of 28 for Chicago. They also scored 19 fast-break points, against 6.

Chicago's bench responds, its starters do not

Chicago's two top scorers came off the bench. Tre Jones scored 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting in 18 minutes. Jaylin Sellers scored as many, hitting 4 of 7 three-pointers in 14 minutes. Matas Buzelis added 12 points and 5 rebounds, Josh Giddey 10 points and 6 assists, but also 3 turnovers.

The starters lacked accuracy. Norman Powell scored 12 points on 3 of 12 shooting, including 0 of 5 from three-point range, and finished at -34. Caleb Wilson ended 2 of 12, including 1 of 7 from deep, for 5 points. Buzelis made just one three-pointer from 6 attempts. Chicago did win two categories, though: 52 points in the paint against 48, and 11 turnovers against 14. That did not make up for a first quarter lost 43-21.

Three takeaways

Brunson made the difference in 28 minutes. His 33 points are more than double the 14 of Tre Jones, Chicago's top scorer. He took 17 shots, did not turn the ball over and finished at +33.

Chicago conceded a 21-point gap from three-point range. The Bulls made 10 three-pointers from 44 attempts, or 23%. New York made 17 from 40, or 43%. On a similar volume, the Knicks hit 7 more threes.

Rebounding shut down Chicago's possessions. The Knicks pulled down 57 rebounds to 34. The gap comes mainly from defensive rebounds: 40 to 19, with 17 offensive rebounds to 15 on top. Towns grabbed 12 on his own.

The SNA view

This win was built in one half. The 43 points of the first quarter set the balance of power, and the 41 of the second put it out of reach. New York did not have everything under control, though: 14 turnovers, 26 points conceded off those giveaways and a last quarter lost 26-22. But at 10 of 44 from deep, Chicago were in no position to make them pay for those errors. Without Josh Hart, the Knicks found in Brunson an efficient scorer and in Towns an interior player who was perfect from the field. The trip to Cleveland will say more about this 4-4 than a win over a team at 1-7.

What's next

New York, at 4-4 and 7th in the Eastern Conference, lead the regular-season series 2-0 against Chicago. The Knicks travel to Cleveland on Saturday 7 November. Chicago, at 1-7 and 14th in the East, host Philadelphia on Sunday 8 November.