Knicks vs Bulls Final Score October 28, 2026: Brunson Erupts for 38 in 19-Point Comeback

Introduction

The New York Knicks looked dead in the water. Down 19 in the second half. Shooting woes lingering from a brutal 1-3 start. Then Jalen Brunson remembered who he was.

Brunson dropped 38 points on 13-of-25 shooting, and the Knicks stormed back to beat the Chicago Bulls 133-127 on Wednesday night at the United Center. It was New York’s second straight win after opening the season with three consecutive losses.

Here’s the thing about this Knicks vs Bulls matchup: it wasn’t just a comeback. It was a statement. Brunson had been shooting 36% from the field and 20% from deep through four games. Against Chicago, he looked like the guy who carried New York through the playoffs.

Quick Answer: The Knicks beat the Bulls 133-127 on October 28, 2026. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 38 points and 7 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 13 rebounds. Norman Powell scored 30 for Chicago in the loss.

What Was the Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown?

The final score was Knicks 133, Bulls 127.

The quarter-by-quarter flow tells the story of a game that swung wildly:

Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final

Knicks 34 22 34 43 133

Bulls 33 29 34 31 127

Chicago led 62-56 at halftime after Tre Jones buried a half-court buzzer-beater. The Bulls stretched the lead to 19 in the third quarter. Then everything flipped.

New York exploded for 43 points in the fourth quarter. The decisive run—a 10-2 stretch—turned a 114-112 deficit into a 124-114 cushion with 3:45 left. Jordan Clarkson sparked it with a turnaround jumper. Brunson followed with a bucket. Ballgame.

Key Takeaway:

• The Knicks scored 43 in the fourth—their highest single-quarter output of the night.
• Chicago shot 18-of-42 from three (42.9%) but couldn’t get stops when it mattered.
• New York’s bench outscored Chicago’s reserves 41-25 in the second half.

Direct Answer: The Knicks won 133-127, fueled by a 43-point fourth quarter that erased a 19-point deficit.

Who Were the Top Performers in Knicks vs Bulls?

Jalen Brunson put on a show in his hometown. The Knicks guard finished with 38 points, 7 assists, and 6 three-pointers on 60% shooting from beyond the arc.

But he wasn’t alone. Karl-Anthony Towns battled through a first-half wrist scare to post 19 points and 13 rebounds. OG Anunoby chipped in 23 points. And the bench trio of Jordan Clarkson (18), Landry Shamet (14), and Tyler Kolek (9 points, 9 assists) combined for 41 points and 15 assists.

For Chicago, Norman Powell led the way with 30 points on an efficient 10-of-15 from the field and 4-of-9 from three. Caleb Wilson added 20, Matas Buzelis had 17, and Jalen Smith posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards.

Here’s the kicker: Brunson’s 14 fourth-quarter points came on the same shots he’d been missing all week. Nothing changed mechanically. The ball just went in.

Key Takeaway:

• Brunson’s 38 points were a season-high and came on 25 shot attempts—aggressive but efficient.
• Towns’ 13 rebounds helped New York win the glass 50-44.
• Powell’s 30 points were his best output as a Bull, but it came in a losing effort.

Direct Answer: Brunson (38 points), Towns (19 points, 13 rebounds), and Anunoby (23 points) powered New York; Powell (30 points) led Chicago.

What Do the Team Statistics Reveal About This Knicks vs Bulls Matchup?

The box score shows two teams with nearly identical shooting numbers—and one massive discrepancy in the fourth quarter.

New York shot 44.8% from the field and 45.8% from three (22-of-48). Chicago shot nearly the same overall but went cold when it counted. The Bulls were 18-of-42 from deep—respectable, but they managed just 31 fourth-quarter points after leading for most of the night.

The Knicks dominated the paint-adjacent stats: 50 rebounds to Chicago’s 44, 32 assists to 28, and 16 offensive boards that led to second-chance opportunities. New York also protected the ball better down the stretch, committing just 12 turnovers to Chicago’s 15.

The most telling number? Free throws. The Knicks went 17-of-20 (85%) from the line. The Bulls attempted fewer and hit them at a lower clip when the game tightened.

Key Takeaway:

• Both teams shot well from three, but New York’s 22 triples on 48 attempts provided the volume edge.
• The Knicks’ 16 offensive rebounds were a season-high and directly led to the Comeback.
• Chicago’s 19-point lead evaporated because of defensive breakdowns, not offensive futility.

Direct Answer: The Knicks won the rebound battle (50-44) and shot 85% from the free-throw line, while Chicago’s fourth-quarter defense collapsed.

How Did Jalen Brunson Flip the Script in Chicago?

Brunson’s start to the 2026-27 season was ugly. Through four games, he was shooting 36% from the field and 20% from three—numbers that had Knicks fans panicking.

Against the Bulls, he didn’t change a thing. Same footwork. Same release. Same shot selection. The difference was makes instead of misses.

The turning point came late in the fourth when Brunson found himself isolated against Powell—the same Powell who’d been torching New York all night. Brunson got to his spot, rose, and hit the shot that pushed the lead to 10. After the game, he dapped up Derrick Rose courtside. Chicago is where Brunson’s family roots run deep. It’s where he found his game again.

The bench deserves equal credit. Clarkson, Shamet, and Kolek combined for 41 points and 15 assists—the kind of production New York desperately needed with Towns and Shamet both banged up in the first half.

Key Takeaway:

• Brunson’s 38 points came on 25 shots—a 52% clip that silenced the early-season criticism.
• The Knicks’ bench scored 41, matching Chicago’s entire fourth-quarter output.
• Brunson’s 14 fourth-quarter points were the most by any player in the final frame.

Direct Answer: Brunson didn’t change his approach—he just made shots, scoring 14 in the fourth to seal the Comeback.

What’s the Injury Report Status for Both Teams?

The Knicks vs Bulls injury report shaped rotations on both sides.

New York was without Jose Alvarado, who missed his third straight game with an ankle injury. Tyler Kolek absorbed the backup point guard minutes and responded with 9 points and 9 assists.

During the game, Karl-Anthony Towns hurt his left wrist in a collision with Bulls forward Noa Essengue. Landry Shamet twisted his right ankle after a dunk. Both went to the locker room and returned to the game. That’s the kind of toughness that doesn’t show up in the box score.

Chicago listed Tobe Awaka as questionable with an ankle sprain, and he didn’t play. Nic Claxton remains out with a hamstring issue. Patrick Williams was upgraded to questionable but didn’t see the floor.

The Bulls are thin in the frontcourt. That’s a problem against a team like New York that crashes the offensive glass.

Key Takeaway:

• Alvarado’s absence forced Kolek into extended minutes—and he delivered.
• Towns and Shamet both returned after injury scares, avoiding a disaster scenario.
• Chicago’s frontcourt depth remains a concern with Awaka and Claxton sidelined.

Direct Answer: The Knicks were without Alvarado (ankle); Towns and Shamet briefly exited but returned. Chicago missed Awaka (ankle) and Claxton (hamstring).

What Does This Result Mean for Both Teams Moving Forward?

For the Knicks, this was a survival win. They avoided a 1-4 start that would have triggered a full-blown crisis in New York. Brunson looked like Brunson again. The bench proved it can carry weight when the starters struggle.

But the flaws are real. New York gave up 127 points to a Bulls team missing key rotation players. The defense that defined last season’s playoff run hasn’t shown up consistently. Towns’ wrist and Shamet’s ankle are worth monitoring. And relying on 38 from Brunson every night isn’t a sustainable formula.

For Chicago, the loss stings but the signs are encouraging. Powell is finding his rhythm. Wilson and Buzelis look like legitimate rotation pieces. The Bulls led by 19 against a playoff-caliber opponent. They couldn’t close.

The Knicks vs Bulls rivalry isn’t what it was in the 90s, but Wednesday night had a little bit of that old chaos—a 19-point comeback. A hometown hero finding his groove. A buzzer-beater that almost mattered.

Key Takeaway:

• New York is 2-3 and still searching for defensive consistency.
• Chicago fell to 1-4 but showed fight against a team with championship aspirations.
• Both teams need healthier rotations to compete in the crowded Eastern Conference.

Direct Answer: The Knicks bought themselves time to fix their defense; the Bulls proved they can compete but still lack closing execution.

Conclusion

The Knicks vs Bulls game on October 28, 2026, was a reminder of why the NBA regular season matters. A team on the brink of an early-season spiral found its franchise player when it needed him most. A young Bulls squad learned that 19-point leads against playoff teams don’t mean much without 48 minutes of execution.

Jalen Brunson’s 38-point outburst wasn’t just a stat line. It was a pressure release valve. New York can breathe. Chicago can build.

Bottom Line: The Knicks erased a 19-point deficit behind Brunson’s 38 points and a bench that finally showed up, beating the Bulls 133-127 in a game that exposed both teams’ flaws and their upside.

What’s your take? Did the Knicks save their season, or is this just a temporary fix? Drop a comment below—and share this breakdown with the Knicks or Bulls fan in your life who needs to see it.

References:

1. NBA.com. “Knicks vs Bulls Box Score, October 28, 2026.” Official game statistics.
2. The Athletic. “Knicks star Jalen Brunson found his mojo in Chicago.” October 28, 2026.
3. AP News. “Jalen Brunson scores 38 points as the Knicks beat the Bulls 133-127.” October 28, 2026.
4. ESPN. “Knicks 133-127 Bulls (Oct 28, 2026) Game Recap.”
5. Sports Illustrated. “6 Bulls Player Grades: Norman Powell Nearly Beats Knicks.” October 28, 2026. 

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