BY: ANDREW LAM – SPORTS ON AIR USA CORRESPONDENT
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks put 70 points on the board in the first half to cruise to a 123-113 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the famed Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson scored 17 points in the opening quarter where the host Knicks jumped to a quick 33-24 advantage. Brunson finished with 27 points and 8 assists on 11-of-21 shooting from the field.
It was a bitter-sweet triumph for the Knicks as their All-Star guard — Brunson — came down with a sprained ankle. The injury scare is the latest to hit the Knicks following the separated shoulder that has sidelined Julius Randle.
Brunson got hurt with only 5:31 left to play and the Knicks were comfortably ahead, 105-95. He didn’t return to play after being subbed out and the team did not give an update as of posting time.
Hitting 55.8 percent from the field (48-of-86) and 40.7 percent from three (11-of-27), New York erected a 28-point lead. Although Memphis dropped down the deficit to 4 late, it wasn’t enough to stem what is now a six-game losing streak.
“I thought our guys came with the right fight in the fourth quarter,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t pleased with how his team squandered a sizeable advantage at home but he’ll take the win and the Knicks improved to 33-18.
“We built a big lead, and we didn’t close it off as well as we should have. But getting the win is the most important win,” Thibodeau told reporters at his post-game presser.
Dontae DiVincenzo topped the Knicks with 32 points on the strength of four 3s. Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa added 17 apiece. John Hart chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Vince Williams Jr. led Memphis with 19 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists. Jarren Jackson Jr had 16 and 5 rebounds. Derrick Rose, the former Bulls star who played a few seasons with the Knicks, saw action for 12 minutes off the bench and accounted for 7 points.
