MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Knicks played with their food but at least they finally ate it.
Playing against a G-League version of the battered Grizzlies, the Knicks toyed around, underwhelmed and were reckless with the ball for much of the contest — especially in the first half — but left FedEx Forum with a 106-94 victory, if only because it was impossible to lose Saturday.
“I was awful. I was terrible. I’m not going to lie, I was terrible,” said Julius Randle, who scored 24 points but committed six of the Knicks’ 22 turnovers. “It was just a sluggish game, all around sloppy. But we found a way to get the win. That’s what matters.”
The Knicks were missing injured Jalen Brunson for the first time this season, but that was nothing compared to what the Grizzlies were coping with.
Already down Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke and Derrick Rose with long-term injuries, Memphis’s top two scorers — Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. — were ruled out with new ailments.
Miles McBride, who scored 19 points in place of the injured Jalen Brunson, drives on Luke Kennard during the Knicks’ 106-94 win over the Grizzlies. AP
The Grizzlies, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, started one recognizable player, Luke Kennard.
The others were Xavier Tillman, Jacob Gilyard, David Roddy and Vince Williams Jr.
Yet the Grizzlies hung around and even led at the break, as the Knicks struggled to take care of the ball without Brunson.
Eventually, the Grizzlies (14-25) stopped hitting their shots, and the Knicks (23-16) buried enough to win the second half.
Part of the turnovers was playing without Brunson, Thibodeau said, but, “You’ve got to give the Grizzlies credit, too. I thought they were really active. We didn’t adjust — they were coming at the ball pretty good and we held onto it. And then usually a result of trying to thread the needle or too much one on one instead of driving it, spraying it. And so part that and part adjusting.
Julius Randle, who scored a game-high 24 points, shoots over Xavier Tillman during the Knicks’ win. AP“We’re playing different guys with different lineups. When you do that you have to keep it simple, hit the first open man, trust that guy to make the play. So I think it was coming from a good place but we were misguided.”
Randle shot 9-for-21 with 11 boards but was visibly frustrated with the turnovers and officiating.
Isaiah Hartenstein (20 rebounds, 13 points), OG Anunoby (18 points) and Miles McBride (career-high 19 points) helped avoid a disaster on Beale Street.
Isaiah Hartenstein, who had 12 points and 20 rebounds, defends David Roddy during the Knicks’ win. AP“It’s always an adjustment when you have bodies down. Especially somebody like [Brunson],” said Randle, who assumed most of the point-guard duties. “I just think coming into the game, all-around, we didn’t have the right mentality. And it kind of showed with our start. But we were able to get it together, get our defense together, and find a way to win.”
The Knicks feasted on the lower class of the NBA this season, now owning a 16-0 record against teams currently with a losing record.
Their dominance prompted Randle to explain their mentality against poor teams a week ago as, “We don’t play with your food.”
Donte DiVincenzo, who scored 13 points, drives on Jacob Gilvard during the Knicks’ victory. APBut in Memphis it was like a sloppy barbecue platter.
“We didn’t take care of the ball at all in the first half, put them in the open floor,” Thibodeau said. “I thought the defense picked up a lot in the second half. The rebounding was good throughout. But our turnovers were problematic. Then we settled down and got better shots as well.”
