![\"NBA:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28287950.jpg\")
Feb 19, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nOne night after erasing an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat visiting Houston, the New York Knicks will look to keep rolling Sunday as they face the slumping Chicago Bulls to begin a three-game road trip.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n New York outscored the Rockets 33-15 in the fourth quarter Saturday to win 108-106 and earn its first victory since the All-Star break. The Bulls, meanwhile, have lost a season-worst eight in a row after falling at home to Eastern Conference-leading Detroit 126-110 on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Knicks star Jalen Brunson credited the team’s resilience for sparking a turnaround against Houston two nights after New York’s lopsided home loss to Detroit.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “We have to continue to stay focused and just keep taking it day by day,” said Brunson, who went 4-for-4 in the fourth quarter against the Rockets, including a go-ahead jumper with 29.5 seconds left. “We can’t look ahead. We can’t take this for granted. We have to stay focused. That’s the main thing.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 25 points and seven rebounds, his fourth straight effort of 20-plus points.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Today was a big day for us to build momentum,” Towns said, “build that confidence. … Finally getting those stops and having that translate to offense really changed the game.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ball-control issues plagued the Bulls in their latest defeat. Chicago committed 23 turnovers Saturday, as 10 of the 12 players who appeared for the Bulls had at least one giveaway.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “We’ve got guys, multiple guys, with four or five turnovers,” coach Billy Donovan said. “That just can’t happen.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Josh Giddey scored a game-high 27 points for the Bulls, while center Guerschon Yabusele led the team with eight assists and nine rebounds.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n Donovan said Anfernee Simons, who didn’t return after injuring his left wrist in the first half, will undergo imaging to determine the severity of the issue.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Chicago remains without fellow guard and recent acquisition Jaden Ivey, who will miss at least the next two weeks with an injured left knee.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Acquired from Detroit in a Feb. 3 trade, Ivey wasn’t on the injury report for Thursday’s game against Toronto. The Bulls announced Saturday morning that he would be out for an extended period.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ivey is nearly 14 months removed from shattering his left fibula on Jan. 1, 2025. He didn’t make his season debut for the Pistons until Nov. 22.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I don’t think he’s played at the level that he’s capable of playing at or has played at,” Donovan said. “In my opinion, he’s not moving like he once did.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Chicago previously lost seven in a row from Nov. 24 to Dec. 7.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Bulls and Knicks have split their last 10 games, with both teams earning home victories this season.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Chicago defeated visiting New York 135-125 on Oct. 31 before the Knicks returned the favor with a 128-116 victory at Madison Square Garden two days later.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Brunson scored 31 points while Towns registered a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds in the Knicks’ victory.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Giddey had a triple-double of 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds to go with two steals in that game.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n