Knicks 114, Grizzlies 113: Heroes abound
OG Anunoby game-winner? OG Anunoby game winner!
It’s been a challenging few weeks for the Big Apple’s brightest. No, not the Juan Soto sweepstakes winner New York Mets, though maybe for patients seeking therapy after Aaron Rodgers’ season from hell for the Jets, and Giants fans should Rodgers end up there. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges – hell, all the New York Knicks have felt the pressure inside and outside the Mecca.
Three losses over a six-game stretch at the hands of your premiere competition, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, will do that. Losing all three in un-competitive fashion will rub it in. A win over the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers won’t erase it. Not even the excitement of OG Anunoby’s first game-winner in the orange and blue will erase the tribulations of the past three weeks for New York.
But it’s a start.
Friday in Memphis, against a Grizzlies team that came into the game the 2-seed in the West and 22-6 at home, Anunoby delivered arguably his biggest shot in a Knicks uniform. Down 113-111 after Ja Morant scored his 23rd, 24th, and 25th points, New York’s 212 million dollar man made a seemingly rare contribution on offense. BANG GOES THE DYNAMO DEFENDER.
That kind of assist should count ten-fold for Brunson, as the league’s leading clutch-time scorer opted against the low-hanging fruit presented by Memphis’ defenders. His captainship is encapsulated in that moment, even if only for that moment. Not even half a minute of game-time removed from a go-ahead three of his own, Brunson delivered a hot potato pass to Anunoby – 27% from three since returning from a foot sprain – with the game on the line. You know the rest. Morant tested Bridges on a game-winning attempt under the basket. It rolled out. I rolled onto the floor in relief. And the Knicks, winners of 12 of 13 against everybody besides Boston and Cleveland, might be rolling once again.
New York takes their talent to South Beach later today. It’s the trap game of all trap games, after which a rejuvenated Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors – winners of seven of their last eight – visit the Garden Tuesday. Friday, the night was Anunoby’s. Morant’s number belongs to Bridges. And there’s far more Knicks to talk.
Notes
Mitchell Robinson, welcome back. New York’s longest-tenured player returned as he left us: not 100%, but a game-changer nonetheless, his impact best captured in his first few minutes on the floor. Robinson’s presence is the current, not the wave — influence, not just power. His domain is the air above the rim. Tread lightly, all ye who dare enter. A number of Grizzlies quickly adjusted after Robinson checked-in, passing out of otherwise green-light looks under the basket. He finished with just six points, four rebounds, and an assist, but his team-high +11 was well-deserved. Hopefully this return is the one that sticks for Robinson. This team will need everything they got from him tonight on at least a 20-minute per game basis come the playoffs.
Robinson’s not the only Knick returning to action – Miles McBride is back, too. No, he wasn’t out with injury. But over the last few weeks we’ve started to see the Deuce we know and love. His performance Friday was every bit the reason New York was in position to pull off the aforementioned late-game heroics: 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes. Side note: is anyone else never satisfied with the number under his minutes column? Or is that just me? Of all the critiques I read about Tom Thibodeau day to day, I’d love to see him find a larger role for Deuce. Yes, I know what I’m asking and who I’m asking it from.
A bottom-five performance on the season for Towns, who shrunk under the shadow of rookie (!!!) Zach Edey. I would have liked to see more savvy under the basket from KAT against such an inexperienced matchup, regardless of the 7-foot-4 Goliath’s physical prowess. I’m fully aware Towns isn’t 100%. But I think he could have evened the playing field in this matchup without relying entirely on physicality.
On the new, newfound center rotation: nothing is more ironic than how Thibs treats Precious Achiuwa. Once an irreplaceable rotation staple and must-have over rookie Ariel Hukporti, Achiuwa was relegated to just four minutes in this one. I think that’s going to become a trend.
I continue to be impressed with Desmond Bane, shotmaker. He’s become underrated.
Speaking of enigmatic lineup cameos, Landry Shamet saw 16 minutes of burn thanks to foul trouble for Josh Hart. So maybe it’s not enigmatic, but poetic. Every player Thibs refuses to include in his exclusive rotations club is almost always called upon at some point in a next-man-up scenario, albeit this time it wasn’t due to fatigue or injury. Still, I thought Shamet looked good on both ends. He was active in his defense of Luke Kennard, especially, and hit a nice three to remind us all Unc still got it.
Memphis shot just 4-of-31 from behind the arc. How is that even possible in 2025?
Anunoby won the night long before his last-second three. His defense on Jaren Jackson Jr. was stellar, a sure sign that the rust is shaking off and he’s getting more comfortable since returning only three games and seven days ago.
My college roommate defined “clutch” as “Exactly what you need exactly when you need it.” Tonight was emblematic of why Brunson’s the favorite to be named the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year. New York’s captain has balanced his game this season with a focus on facilitating that rivals the league’s best and hasn’t swayed from it, even in the most climactic moments. Not because of critics. Not in search of accolades. Because it’s what the Knicks need.