Knicks 143, Grizzlies 106: "Statement game"

01/27/2025 10:09 PM

New York forces a season high 26 turnovers and steals the ball 20 times as they obliterate Memphis in the second half.

The Memphis Grizzlies (31-16) must have been jet-lagged. As the league's fastest team and one of the best of the Western Conference, tonight's game at Madison Square Garden promised to be a workout for the New York Knicks (31-16). Au contraire. Without breaking much of a sweat, Mikal Bridges scored X points, and the 'Bockers stole the ball 20 times en route to a 143-106 victory.

Quoth M455: "Statement game." Yessir! To clobber one of the top teams sure feels like a statement, doesn't it?

First Half

Sweet passing and efficient scoring helped New York jump out to a 10-4 lead early in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson played hot from the jump, draining his first three shot attempts for eight points and an assist before Ja Morant could blink. Brunson would finish the game with 20 points, six assists, and made 8-of-14 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep. The best stat? He only had to play 25 minutes tonight.

On the Grizzlies' side, Jaren Jackson, Jr. scored nine, Desmond Bane added six points, and Brandon Clarke matched Brunson's shooting perfection. Their leader, Ja Morant, was quiet however, and finished the game with 10 points and two assists.

By the close of the first quarter, the Knicks had a narrow lead at 34-31. Turnovers played a critical role in the first half for Memphis, with Morant and Bane contributing to seven of their team's 14 turnovers, while New York kept their own turnovers to six. By the end of the Grizzlies had given the ball away 26 times.

The Knicks' bench came through significantly, with Deuce McBride and Precious Achiuwa adding nine and eight points respectively, each also recording two steals by halftime. Achiuwa would finish the night with 14 points, three steals, and two blocks. He nearly broke the rim with not one but two monster dunks. The Knicks bench would score over 50 points!

Both teams showed their strengths on defense, with the Knicks amassing seven steals and the Grizzlies blocking four shots. At halftime, the Knicks were ahead 60-52, driven by ten steals– close to the franchise's record of 16. Mikal Bridges led the first-half scoring for New York with 14 points and provided four assists, shooting an efficient 54.5%. He was a human fireball tonight, gaining momentum as the game went along. He made 28 points overall on 12-of-19 from the field, stole the ball three times and blocked it twice.

Second Half

The Knicks came out firing in the second half. Bridges led the charge as the Knicks piled on 13 consecutive points, facing little resistance from Memphis. New York secured their largest lead yet at 27 points before they let took their collective foot off the gas a bit.

Karl-Anthony Towns feasted on rookie Zach Edey, JJJ, and pretty much anyone the Grizzlies put in front of him. Towns collected a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double. Here's a highlight:

The Knicks took a 102-84 into the fourth quarter. Up by 16, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau trusted bench players to protect the lead. His confidence was rewarded, with Precious and Cameron Payne scoring backbreaker buckets to push the lead to 34 by the six-minute mark. The rookies got a little run and the Garden crowd was delirious from the fun. Absolutely thrilling win.

OG Anunoby devoured a steady diet of bear meat in his 34 minutes. He finished with 15 points and a whopping six steals. And Josh Hart, the heart of New York, grabbed 10 rebounds in his 27 minutes of play. For Memphis, Jackson led the team with 21 points.

Up Next

The Denver Nuggets come to town on Wednesday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.

Box Score