Surging Knicks dismantle Grizzlies to extend win streak to five games
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The Knicks have turned their game into a seamless display of skill. They’re not just performing, but excelling.

Increasingly, they’re projecting the image of a top-tier team.

Interestingly, the consensus is that they still have room to grow. They insist they’re just getting started.

Tuesday was significant for them as it was their 10th match of the season.

Aside from a short-lived three-game stumble, they must be pleased with the initial outcomes under Mike Brown’s leadership.

They breezed past the Grizzlies 133-120 at Madison Square Garden to extend their winning streak to five games.

They are now a perfect 7-0 at MSG, their best home start since 2012-13.

They are second in the Eastern Conference, behind only the 9-2 Pistons — whom they eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year.

That 2012-13 Knicks team started 10-0 at home.

The Knicks have two more games on this home stand before hitting the road, so they could bring themselves within touching distance of that milestone.

The Grizzlies, now 4-8, have struggled this year but are no slouches, either. They were a playoff team last year and have plenty of star power in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., but the Knicks made them look uncompetitive.

Even worse, the Knicks broke their spirit and made it look like they quit on their coach, Tuomas Iisalo.



The game was tied 30-30 with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. The Knicks proceeded to rip off a 19-0 run to take a 49-30 lead just under two minutes into the second quarter.

The Grizzlies never got within single digits the rest of the way. They briefly cut their deficit to 10 in the fourth quarter, but it was far too little, too late.

The Knicks surpassed 40 points in a quarter once more, in the first quarter.

For the season, they have scored 40 or more points in a quarter seven times — last season, they only accomplished that feat 14 times.

They poured in 77 points in the first half, shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range.

It marked the second straight first half they surpassed 75 points, the first time they’ve done that in back-to-back games since 1988.

They had 114 points entering the fourth quarter — the most points they’ve scored through three quarters in a game since 2008.

And for the first time in team history, they’ve surpassed 130 points in three straight games.

Everywhere you look, the Knicks are achieving rare feats.

What is perhaps most promising is how many different ways the Knicks can hurt opponents. Jalen Brunson led the team in scoring with 32 points, but six players scored in double digits.

The disgruntled Morant, whose Grizzlies future is at a delicate place, struggled with 16 points on rough 4-for-14 shooting.

During this five-game winning streak, the Knicks have outscored their opponents by 101 points.

But there was a telling moment in the third quarter — Karl-Anthony Towns drove to the rim and was fouled while hitting a floater to give the Knicks a 26-point lead. But before he took his free throw, Brunson brought him over and spoke with him, unsatisfied with how they ran the offense that possession.

That is the standard they are holding themselves to.

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