Being clutch doesn’t at all times imply scoring a game-winning basket. Typically, the game-winning play is transferring the ball.
And generally, it’s being in place defensively simply sufficient to drive an all-world scorer to overlook a layup.
The Knicks got here up clutch on Friday night time and punched a 114-113 victory over the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention.
This time it wasn’t solely their captain who pulled out the cape.
The Memphis Grizzlies thought that is likely to be the case. So when Jalen Brunson had the ball in his arms with lower than 15 seconds left within the fourth quarter of Friday night time’s showdown and his staff down two, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins referred to as for the double staff.
Brunson responded by knifing into the paint, then kicking the ball out to OG Anunoby, whose three put New York up by one.
“Just make the shot. I work on it so much,” Anunoby mentioned in his walk-off interview after the sport. “I trust my work. Just being confident in my shot.”
On the subsequent possession, the Grizzlies made a predictable transfer: With the sport on the road, they cleared the court docket out for his or her All-Star guard Ja Morant. Mikal Bridges used his size and athleticism to drive a miss on Morant’s try at a buzzer-beating game-winner.
“That was a big win. We were down most of the game,” Anunoby mentioned. “We got big stops, big rebounds, scored in transition, pushed the pace. JB hit big shots. Everyone hit big shots. Everyone made big plays. The whole squad.”
The Knicks trailed by as many as 12 within the third quarter after the Grizzlies — who rank No. 1 in tempo and No. 2 in factors within the paint this season — put the pedal to the steel to begin the sport.
New York clawed again, nonetheless, to interrupt a tie between the 2 groups that walked onto the FedEx Discussion board flooring with an identical data on Friday.
The Knicks left Memphis, nonetheless, with 39 wins after handing the Grizzlies loss No. 21.
Mitchell Robinson‘s return was a big reason why.
Robinson made his season debut on Friday after missing the first 58 games recovering from offseason ankle surgery. On a strict minutes restriction, he finished with six points, five rebounds and one assist in 12 minutes of action. Robinson first checked into the game at the 7:17 mark of the first quarter after Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two early fouls. He also stepped onto the court on the final possession and was in the paint during Morant’s try at a game-winning layup.
“It’s huge. He’s a monster out there offensively and defensively, and as the season goes on, as he gets up to speed, he’s gonna keep getting better and better,” Anunoby mentioned. “We missed him and we need him.”
Thibodeau wished to mood expectations forward of Robinson’s first NBA motion since Recreation 1 of New York’s second-round playoff sequence towards the Indiana Pacers on Could 6.
“It’s his first game back so it’s hard to say. Obviously games are a lot different than practices, but he’s a vet, so I think he understands exactly who he is,” mentioned Thibodeau. “Just play to your strengths, go as hard as you can, and then it’ll be a short stint, so his timing will come around, but the defense — anticipating that being there right from the start.”
Brunson completed with a team-high 23 factors on 10-of-23 taking pictures from the sector and made a key floater to tie the sport at 108 apiece. Anunoby completed with 19 factors on 4-of-10 taking pictures from deep, and Bridges shot 0-of-5 from deep for 15 factors however was the lead defender serving to maintain Morant to simply 9-of-22 taking pictures from the sector.
Morant shot 0-of-6 from downtown, Desmond Bane missed all 4 of his makes an attempt from deep and the Grizzlies shot 0-of-10 from three-point vary within the second half.
New York’s bench additionally outscored Memphis’ bench, 34-33, because of 17 factors from Miles McBride, who received sizzling from downtown on a three-of-five taking pictures night time from deep.
The Knicks will now journey to Miami for a date with the Jimmy Butler-less Warmth earlier than internet hosting the Golden State Warriors at Madison Sq. Backyard.
They may then embark on a five-game West Coast highway journey.
