A failed launch doomed the New York Knicks against the Houston Rockets.

Host Houston took the lead just before four minutes elapsed in a Monday meeting and never relinquished it, paving the way to a 109-97 victory at the Toyota Center. The Knicks’ visit served as a showcase for Alperen Sengun, who had a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds with four blocks while Fred VanVleet overcame early difficulties to earn 19 points, including 7 of 8 on two-pointers. range.

The Knicks (3-3) suffered their first loss of their current road trip and were also held to double digits for the first time this season and for the first time since early April. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 29 points in the loss while Karl-Anthony Towns extended his double-double streak to five games with 19 rebounds and 17 points. Towns’ 75 boards through the first six games are the second most of any new Knicks during that span, behind only the 84 that Zach Randolph put up in 2007.

All that and more wasn’t enough for the Knicks to overcome a Houst lead that reached 15 before New York cut it to one. While they held Rockets rising star Jalen Green in check for most of the night, his pair of late triples, including one early in the final minute, served as de facto daggers in the comeback of the Knicks.

The Knicks finish this first road trip Wednesday night when they take on the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

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