With the sport on the road, arguably the Knicks’ greatest perimeter defender was on the bench.
After serving to restrict Ja Morant to eight factors and 4 turnovers within the first half, Quentin Grimes didn’t get a crack at him within the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 127-123 loss to the Grizzlies.
“Simply the way in which the sport was unfolding,” coach Tom Thibodeau stated. “I favored Cam [Reddish] rather a lot, too. That group was rolling fairly good, so simply stayed with them. No matter works greatest for our workforce, that’s what we’re going to go together with.”
Reddish was a part of the unit that rallied the Knicks from a 10-point deficit getting into the fourth quarter into the lead, and he hit some massive photographs in his first sport again from a proper groin harm. Thibodeau additionally favored the concept of giving Morant a unique look with the lanky Reddish. Morant, although, ended up scoring 10 factors within the ultimate quarter together with the go-ahead basket with 13.9 seconds to go. He wound up with a triple-double of 27 factors, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
“I believed [Grimes] did nearly as good a job as you may presumably do [against Morant]. I believed Cam gave us actually good minutes,” Thibodeau stated. “Between the 2 of them, I used to be actually happy with their defensive effort.”
Jalen Brunson was a game-time resolution with a proper quad contusion he suffered late in Friday’s loss to the Path Blazers, however it didn’t gradual him down. He scored 30 factors in 36 minutes. He’s additionally coping with a bruised proper wrist.
“I imply, it’s simply bumps and bruises over the course of the season,” he stated. “If I can stroll, I can play.”
Coming into the sport in a deep capturing droop, RJ Barrett was very aggressive, forcing his means into the paint. All 10 of his first-half factors got here across the rim. He did hit two 3-pointers and completed with 22 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists.
“I feel generally getting these straightforward buckets, the place you’re not working fairly as onerous for photographs, [is important],” Thibodeau stated. “Belief the move. Transfer with out the ball. Display screen off the ball. I feel if you do these issues, oftentimes these are conditions during which you get straightforward scoring alternatives.”
Immanuel Quickley left the sport late within the third quarter with a sore proper knee and didn’t return. … Derrick Rose (proper toe) returned after lacking the final two video games and scored six factors in 12 minutes. … With extra wholesome our bodies, Thibodeau went 11-deep within the first quarter alone. Middle Jericho Sims, regardless of his sturdy play of late, didn’t play. … The Grizzlies have been with out second-leading scorer Desmond Bane (toe) and wing Ziaire Williams (ankle).
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