This time, the Knicks measured up.
Going through the NBA’s hottest staff, with a high 5 document, the Knicks not solely toppled the Grizzlies on Monday evening at MSG, they battered them into early submission behind a balanced assault and two-way domination from Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks received what they needed offensively within the 143-106 annihilation, whereas the Grizzlies devolved right into a turnover mess after they had the rock.
The outcome was a 26-point lead within the third quarter, a mass concession substitution from the Grizzlies with about 5 minutes remaining within the fourth, and an general Knicks efficiency rating close to their better of the season.
Bridges dropped 28 factors and, as the first defender, stifled Ja Morant. Bridges was additionally a ridiculous plus-43 for the Knicks (31-16), who’ve received 4 consecutive and 5 of their previous six.
Such a blowout wasn’t anticipated towards the Grizzlies (31-16), who entered with an NBA-best six-game successful streak.
However the Knicks landed the primary blow, and the Grizzlies, who trailed for the ultimate 46 minutes, by no means countered.
They had been run out of MSG. The ultimate minutes turned a Knicks spotlight present with Bridges leaping for an alley-oop and Miles McBride throwing down a tomahawk jam that had the Backyard followers in a frenzy.
Jalen Brunson scored 20 factors in simply 25 minutes. Karl-Anthony Cities added 24 factors with 11 rebounds in 33 minutes. Josh Hart performed simply 26 minutes — his lowest complete since opening evening in Boston.
Tom Thibodeau was in a position to hold his starters’ minutes low due to the blowout, and likewise as a result of New York’s bench impressed behind McBride (14 factors) and Valuable Achiuwa (14).
The Grizzlies dedicated 26 turnovers, failing to recreate their acquainted high-octane offense from a lot of this season. Morant, enjoying at MSG for the primary time since 2022, was bottled up and lacked aggression, scoring simply 10 factors on 13 photographs in 27 minutes.
Jaren Jackson Jr., an All-Star candidate, led Memphis with 21 factors. He was their solely risk, but in addition dedicated 4 turnovers.
The Knicks are not winless towards the highest 3 groups in every convention.
They’re 0-1 towards the Celtics, 0-1 towards the Cavs, 0-2 towards the Thunder, 0-1 towards the Rockets — and now 1-0 towards the Grizzlies.