New York didn’t let this one breathe. The Knicks detonated out of the gate, ripped control immediately, and coasted to a 136-96 win over the Bulls on April 3, 2026 at Madison Square Garden.
The tone was set in the opening 12 minutes: New York 38, Chicago 16. By halftime it was 78-41, a 37-point gap that effectively turned the second half into clock management.
Game flow: a first-half avalanche
Chicago’s night unraveled early and never stabilized. New York piled on 38 in the first quarter, then somehow got louder in the second with 40 more. The Bulls’ 25-point second quarter couldn’t keep pace with the Knicks’ relentless scoring and pace.
Chicago did its best work after the break — 31 points in the third — but the math was already brutal. New York answered with 30 in the third and 28 in the fourth, keeping the margin comfortably out of reach.
Ball movement separated the teams
The Knicks’ offense didn’t just score — it shared. New York finished with 30 assists, a clean indicator of a game played with pace, spacing, and quick decisions. Chicago posted 24 assists, but much of that came after the outcome had tilted decisively.
Turning points
1) The 38-16 opening quarter
That first quarter was the game. New York’s +22 margin immediately flipped the night from competitive to survival mode for Chicago.
2) The second-quarter surge to 78 points at halftime
New York’s 40-point second quarter removed any doubt. Even with Chicago scoring 25 in the period, the Knicks widened the gap and entered halftime up 37.
What it means going forward
For New York, the win was a jolt after a rough patch (WWLLL entering the night). At 50-28, the Knicks used this one to reset their rhythm and reassert their identity: fast, decisive offense with the ball popping from side to side.
For Chicago, the loss extended a skid (LLLLL entering the game) and underscored the current gap between a team pushing toward the postseason and one searching for answers. The Bulls couldn’t withstand New York’s early punch, and once the deficit ballooned, the game’s competitive portion was long gone.
By the numbers
Final: Knicks 136, Bulls 96
Quarter scores: NYK 38-40-30-28 (136) | CHI 16-25-31-24 (96)
Assists: Knicks 30, Bulls 24