The New York Knicks vs Chicago Bulls match player stats from Feb 22, 2026 tell a clean story. New York walked out of the United Center with a 105–99 road win, fueled by Karl-Anthony Towns dropping 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 9 assists. Chicago never led by more than 8 and could not find a response once the Knicks flipped the third quarter in their favor.
Table of contents
- Final Score at a Glance
- New York Knicks Player Stats
- Chicago Bulls Player Stats
- Team Stats Compared
- Advanced Player Metrics
- The KAT Factor
- Brunson Runs the Show
- Josh Hart: The Quiet Glue
- Chicago’s Best Was Still Not Enough
- Third Quarter Shift: Where New York Took Over
- Shooting Zones Breakdown
- Turnover and Second Chance Breakdown
- Context: Where Both Teams Stand
- Quick Reference Summary
- Analysis: Why New York Won This Game
- Bottom Line
Final Score at a Glance
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | 25 | 27 | 31 | 22 | 105 |
| Chicago Bulls | 27 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 99 |
Chicago led or was tied through the first half. New York’s third quarter, where they outscored the Bulls 31–25, was the real turning point. From there, the Knicks managed the clock and never gave Chicago enough room to climb back.
New York Knicks Player Stats
Starters
| Player | POS | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | C | 28 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10/17 | 5/9 | 3/4 | +13 |
| Jalen Brunson | G | 19 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 7/19 | 1/6 | 4/6 | +14 |
| Josh Hart | F | 11 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4/5 | 1/1 | 2/4 | +16 |
| OG Anunoby | F | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4/11 | 0/4 | 1/2 | +17 |
| Jose Alvarado | G | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2/8 | 1/6 | 0/0 | -9 |
Off the Bench
| Player | POS | PTS | REB | AST | STL | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landry Shamet | G | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5/9 | 4/8 | 2/3 | -10 |
| Jeremy Sochan | F | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1/2 | 0/0 | 0/0 | -10 |
Note: Bench contributed 27 total points (NYK bench: Shamet 16, Sochan 2 + others).
Chicago Bulls Player Stats
Starters
| Player | POS | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matas Buzelis | G | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4/12 | 3/9 | 4/5 | -6 |
| Isaac Okoro | F | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4/10 | 3/7 | 1/1 | -15 |
| Jalen Smith | F | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5/11 | 2/6 | 0/0 | -9 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | C | 11 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4/8 | 3/6 | 0/0 | -3 |
| Tre Jones | G | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4/9 | 0/1 | 0/0 | +1 |
Off the Bench
| Player | POS | PTS | REB | AST | STL | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Williams | F | 10 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3/8 | 2/7 | 2/2 | +6 |
| Collin Sexton | G | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2/5 | 2/4 | 2/2 | +1 |
Note: Chicago bench delivered 43 total points, actually outperforming New York’s bench unit on the night.
Team Stats Compared
| Stat | New York Knicks | Chicago Bulls |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 105 | 99 |
| Field Goal % | 45.2% | 39.5% |
| 3-Point % | 35.7% | 34.8% |
| Free Throw % | 66.7% | 71.4% |
| Total Rebounds | 58 | 55 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 10 | 13 |
| Assists | 27 | 24 |
| Steals | 9 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 17 |
| Points in Paint | 32 | 32 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 | 16 |
| Second Chance Points | 16 | 14 |
| Bench Points | 27 | 43 |
| Effective FG% | 54.2% | 48.8% |
| True Shooting % | 56.3% | 52.0% |
| Offensive Rating | 109.1 | 99.8 |
| Defensive Rating | 99.8 | 109.1 |
| Assists/Turnover Ratio | 2.08 | 1.41 |
Two things pop out right away. New York took far better care of the ball, turning it over just 13 times compared to Chicago’s 17. And the Knicks shot significantly more efficiently, posting a true shooting percentage of 56.3 compared to Chicago’s 52.0. Those two gaps combined were enough to decide the game.
Advanced Player Metrics
| Player (NYK) | TS% | eFG% | Off. Rating | Def. Rating | Efficiency Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 74.6% | 73.5% | 126.6 | 91.5 | 34 |
| Jalen Brunson | 43.9% | 39.5% | 101.9 | 104.5 | 22 |
| Josh Hart | 81.4% | 90.0% | 138.9 | 103.1 | 22 |
| OG Anunoby | 37.9% | 36.4% | 87.6 | 94.4 | 13 |
| Landry Shamet | 77.5% | 77.8% | 115.9 | 109.0 | 7 |
| Player (CHI) | TS% | eFG% | Off. Rating | Def. Rating | Efficiency Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guerschon Yabusele | 68.8% | 68.8% | 119.9 | 108.1 | 20 |
| Patrick Williams | 56.3% | 50.0% | 132.3 | 115.9 | 15 |
| Matas Buzelis | 52.8% | 45.8% | 86.6 | 114.3 | 6 |
| Jalen Smith | 54.5% | 54.5% | 91.0 | 106.0 | 10 |
| Isaac Okoro | 57.5% | 55.0% | 105.0 | 116.2 | 9 |
The KAT Factor
Karl-Anthony Towns was simply the best player on the floor. His 28-point, 11-rebound double-double on 58.8% shooting from the field and 55.6% from three is the kind of line that wins road games. He went 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, creating real two-way problems for a Chicago frontcourt that could not decide whether to guard him at the rim or on the perimeter.
KAT also grabbed 4 offensive rebounds, converted 100% of his second-chance opportunities, and drew 6 fouls on the night. His offensive rating of 126.6 with a defensive rating of just 91.5 made him by far the most impactful player in this game.
What makes this performance stand out even more is the efficiency. A true shooting percentage of 74.6% is elite by any standard, and for a center pulling up from the three-point line, it is nearly impossible to defend without leaving someone else open.
Brunson Runs the Show
Jalen Brunson finished with 19 points and 9 assists, and his 4.5 assist-to-turnover ratio tells the more complete story. He kept Chicago’s defense honest, found Towns in the right spots, and delivered when New York needed buckets in the fourth quarter.
His shooting line, 7-of-19 from the field with just 1-of-6 from three, was not his cleanest night from a percentage standpoint. But he got to the free throw line six times, managed the game under pressure, and posted a +14 on the floor. That number speaks for itself.
For fans tracking Knicks vs Bulls NBA analysis more closely, sites like Basketball Reference give you the full play-by-play context behind these numbers.
Josh Hart: The Quiet Glue
Josh Hart’s final line read 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 4-of-5 shooting. His 80% field goal percentage on the night, along with a 90% effective field goal percentage, made him one of the more efficient contributors on either team.
Hart’s game does not always show up in highlight reels. But his offensive rating of 138.9 in this game reflects just how well the team performed when he was on the floor. He also converted every paint finish he attempted, going 3-of-3 inside. His +16 plus/minus was the best among Knicks starters.
Chicago’s Best Was Still Not Enough
The Bulls had five players score in double figures, and their bench chipped in 43 points. On paper that looks competitive. The problem was that no single Bulls player could match what KAT was doing on the other end.
Guerschon Yabusele had a solid outing with 11 points and 13 rebounds on 50% shooting, including 3-of-6 from three. That double-double gave Chicago some interior presence, but his defensive rating of 108.1 shows the Bulls paid a price for keeping him on the floor against Towns.
Matas Buzelis led all Chicago scorers with 15 points but needed 12 field goal attempts to get there, committing 3 turnovers in the process. His -6 plus/minus and offensive rating of just 86.6 reflect a frustrating night overall.
Patrick Williams was the most interesting Bull off the bench. Eight assists with just 1 turnover, a +6 rating, and a team-high offensive rating of 132.3 when on the floor. He was Chicago’s best playmaker in stretches, but with only 10 points and 1 rebound, the production was too narrow.
For broader context on both rosters and where this game fits into their respective seasons, the official NBA website keeps updated game logs and team standings.
Third Quarter Shift: Where New York Took Over
The first half was essentially a coin flip. Chicago led after Q1 27–25, and then the teams traded punches through Q2 with New York edging ahead 52–53 at the break.
Then came the third quarter.
New York outscored Chicago 31–25 in the period, building enough of a cushion that the Bulls could not realistically close in Q4. The Knicks held their opponents to 21 points in the final frame, managing possessions and trusting Towns to handle any late-game resistance Chicago could offer.
- NYK biggest lead: 13 points
- CHI biggest lead: 8 points
- Largest unanswered run (NYK): 8-0
- Largest unanswered run (CHI): 8-0
Both teams had their moments, but New York’s run came when it mattered more.
Shooting Zones Breakdown
| Zone | NYK FGM/FGA | NYK% | CHI FGM/FGA | CHI% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Rim | 13/18 | 72.2% | 15/28 | 53.6% |
| Mid-Range | 7/14 | 50.0% | 2/5 | 40.0% |
| Three-Point | 15/42 | 35.7% | 16/46 | 34.8% |
The rim finishing gap is where this game was decided at the shot-level. New York converted 72.2% of their shots at the rim compared to Chicago’s 53.6%. That difference of nearly 20 percentage points on high-value attempts compounds across 48 minutes in a way that cannot be overcome by three-point volume alone.
Turnover and Second Chance Breakdown
Both teams scored 32 points in the paint. Both teams were roughly even from three. So the margin came down to taking care of the ball and making second-chance opportunities count.
Turnovers:
- NYK turned it over 13 times, leading to 12 Chicago points
- CHI turned it over 17 times, leading to 21 New York points
Second Chance:
- NYK: 16 second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds
- CHI: 14 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds
Chicago actually pulled down more offensive boards, but New York converted their fewer opportunities at a higher rate, hitting 85.7% of their second-chance attempts compared to the Bulls’ 60.0%.
Context: Where Both Teams Stand
Heading into this game, the Knicks had been in solid form with wins over Washington and Denver in the preceding week. This victory pushed their road record further in the right direction at a point in the season where seeding implications are starting to tighten.
For Chicago, this loss extended a stretch where the Bulls struggled to put together consistent performances. Their bench scoring was elite in this game at 43 points, but the turnover problem and inability to limit Towns on the perimeter were issues that showed up throughout the night.
The ESPN NBA scores section tracks where both teams move after results like this, with standings updated in real time.
Quick Reference Summary
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Top Scorer | Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK) — 28 pts |
| Top Rebounder | Guerschon Yabusele (CHI) — 13 reb |
| Top Assist Man | Jalen Brunson (NYK) — 9 ast |
| Best +/- | OG Anunoby (NYK) — +17 |
| Most Efficient Scorer | Josh Hart (NYK) — 81.4% TS |
| Best Bench Performance | Landry Shamet (NYK) — 16 pts, 50% 3PT |
| Ball Security | NYK — 13 TO vs 17 TO |
| Rebounding | NYK — 58 vs 55 |
| Bench Points | CHI — 43 vs 27 |
Analysis: Why New York Won This Game
Three things decided this game.
First, KAT shooting at an elite clip. When the Knicks’ best player shoots 58.8% from the field and 55.6% from three on 17 attempts, the team is almost always going to win.
Second, ball control. Seventeen Chicago turnovers at this level of competition is punishing. New York scored 21 points off those giveaways. That is basically the margin of the game right there.
Third, rim finishing efficiency. New York converted 72.2% of their shots at the basket. Chicago finished at 53.6%. Better paint finishing often correlates with better shot selection and more purposeful attacking, and that was very much the case here.
Chicago’s bench kept them in it longer than the final score suggests. Williams, Sexton, and the secondary contributors were solid. But the starters could not collectively match what New York’s core was putting together, and the turnover deficit proved impossible to overcome.
For a closer look at season-long trends and player development arcs involved in this matchup, The Knicks Blog at SB Nation covers rotation decisions and lineup data in strong detail.
Bottom Line
If you want the full New York Knicks vs Chicago Bulls match player stats picture from Feb 22, 2026, here is the short version: Karl-Anthony Towns dominated, Jalen Brunson ran a clean offense, and New York protected the ball well enough to come away with a six-point road win. Chicago played hard and had their moments, but too many turnovers and too little efficiency at the rim made the difference in the end.
For more in-depth NBA player stats, head-to-head match breakdowns, and box score analysis, check out matchvsplayerstats.com for coverage of games like this one throughout the season.
