• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Knicks lose another heartbreaker, fall 3 ½ games back in East

courtesy AP/Lance Murphey

With only 30 games remaining in New York’s regular season it would behoove the Knicks to get out of the gate quickly following the all-star break. The margin between them and the 8th seed isn’t insurmountable however, when you take into account how bad New York has played this season the gap feels more like 5 or 6 games.

The 1st quarter was a low scoring one for both teams. It looked as if the break had taken its toll early on. Carmelo Anthony especially struggled misfiring on his first seven shots of the game. Melo didn’t get his first point until late in the quarter and didn’t hit his first field goal until there was 6:03 remaining in the 2nd. That futility propelled the Grizzlies to take an 18 point lead.

Mike Conley was back in the lineup for the Grizz following a seven game absence due to a sprained ankle. He showed no ill effects of the injury as he repeatedly penetrated by whoever was guarding him and Mike Miller also gave Memphis a huge lift off the bench connecting on a trinity of threes in that 2nd frame.

Knicks head coach Mike Woodson must have had a spirited halftime conversation with his team as New York’s energy was noticeably different once they came out of the locker room for the final 24 minutes of the game. It was on the defensive end that propelled the Knicks back into the game getting in transition, securing defensive rebounds and efficiently executing on the offensive end culminating with a Pablo Prigioni three that cut the Knicks deficit to just 3 points, 54-51.

From that point the two teams jostled back and forth with New York unable to get over the hump. They twice tied the game and midway through the 4th, were finally able to regain the lead, their first since the early stages of the game. Memphis couldn’t hit a shot and the Knicks opened up a 7 point lead and the catalyst was Tim Hardaway Jr, who followed up his 36 point performance during the Rising Stars Challenge in New Orleans over the all-star weekend with 23 points including his 2nd, 4-point play of the season.

The good feelings though would be short lived for the Knicks cause if we have learned anything about this team is that they are consistently, inconsistent. New York has been a team notorious for being unable to handle prosperity and last night was no different. Conley was again vital to his team’s success controlling the game and giving the Grizzlies whatever they needed, whether it was points or setting up teammates.

The two teams began trading buckets until Mike Miller nailed a wide open three pointer that put Memphis back up 94-93. On the play, New York didn’t rotate back to Miller after Prigioni committed to double teaming Zach Randolph. After that JR Smith, Hardaway Jr & Prigioni would all misfire from three point range to secure the victory for Memphis.

Final

Knicks 93 Grizzlies 98

 

Notes:

Woodson went with Hardaway Jr and Prigioni exclusively in the fourth over Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert.

New York shot just 6-27 from downtown

Hardaway Jr led the team in scoring

Wilson Caicedo: PureSportsNY

By Vernon McKenzie

Graduate of New Institute Of Technology with a BA in Communications with a focus on Television Radio. Owner and Executive Producer of PureSportsNY

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