Brunson-Less Knicks Rebound, Tame Grizzlies in Memphis
The New York Knicks rebounded in more ways than one on Saturday night.
Dealt their first loss of the new calendar year on Thursday in Dallas, the Knicks took advantage of a severely shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies group to the tune of a 106-94 victory at FedExForum to move back to a season-best seven games over .500.
Saturday's win proved historic for head coach Tom Thibodeau, who became the 36th coach in NBA history to win 500 games in his career. To date, 148 have come with the Knicks.
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With Memphis placing seven men on their injured list, the Knicks dominated the interior game with a plus-21 advantage on the glass. Isaiah Hartenstein pulled in 20 more rebounds (tying his career-high set on Jan. 3 and now averaging over 15.6 over his last six games) while Julius Randle paired 11 with a game-high 24 points.
New York (23-16) played Saturday's game without Jalen Brunson, who sat out with a calf injury. In his place, Miles McBride made his first start of the season and earned a career-best 19 points primarily built on a perfect 3-of-3 mark from three-point range in the first half. The Knicks were also a team-best plus-13 on the scoreboard during McBride's 38 minutes of action.
Despite the win, the Knicks will likely count their blessing after keeping things a little too close for comfort with the wounded Grizzlies: Memphis submitted a brutal injury that wiped out several of its major contributors like Ja Morant (out for the season). Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. were the latest scratches after a Friday loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, forcing Memphis to put out a makeshift group that resembled its G League team in Mississippi.
The replacements, to their credit, managed to give the Knicks fits, forcing 14 metropolitan turnovers in the first half and even taking a 57-53 lead into the halftime break. Luke Kennard and Vince Williams Jr. each had a dozen points each while three different Grizzlies had at least four assists.
New York got its act together in the second, mustering a familiarly stifling defensive effort that allowed only 15 points in the third period, one that saw the visitors lead by as much as 12. The path to that fateful advantage was paced by Donte DiVincenzo, whose singular 8-0 run more or less placed momentum into the Knicks' corner from there on out: after a three-point with 2:55 left in the third, Memphis (14-25) never got close than eight, and that was in the penultimate minute of regulation with the result more or less decided.
In defeat, Memphis at least managed to force a season-worst 23 turnovers from the Knicks' hands. That was undone by a 34 percent output from the field in the second half though rookie reserve GG Jackson enjoyed a breakout showcase to the tune of a team-best 20 points after earning only 12 total in his first six NBA showings. New York and Memphis will do battle in Manhattan on Feb. 8.
Until then, the Knicks will return home on Monday afternoon for a holiday matinee against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden (3 p.m. ET, MSG).
