Overview
- New York snapped a three-game slide Wednesday with a 130-119 win at the Grizzlies as Karl-Anthony Towns logged 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Jalen Brunson’s absence.
- Brunson sat with right ankle soreness after a late pregame ruling, and Jose Alvarado started with Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Towns.
- The Knicks opened with a 48-point first quarter and 79 by halftime, then held on after Memphis trimmed a 22-point lead to three, with Anunoby pouring in 17 points in the fourth.
- Bridges added 24 points and the bench lifted the offense, with Alvarado scoring 15, Landry Shamet posting 13 in his return, and Tyler Kolek handing out seven assists.
- New York is 49-28 with five games left and lingering concerns about slow starts, physicality and pick-and-roll defense against winning teams, with the Bulls next at Madison Square Garden.