NEW YORK — Mikal Bridges delivered a standout performance with 28 points, six assists, and five rebounds, playing a crucial role in the New York Knicks’ emphatic 143-106 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. This win ended the Grizzlies’ impressive six-game winning streak.
Alongside Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 20 points and six assists. The Knicks, who have now scored 143 points in consecutive games, secured their fourth consecutive win. With this triumph, New York improved to a record of 31-16, marking their 16th victory in the last 22 contests.
For Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. was the leading scorer with 21 points, and Desmond Bane supported with 16 points. This loss was only the fourth for the Grizzlies in 18 games against teams from the Eastern Conference.
In terms of takeaways, the Grizzlies, known for their high-scoring offense leading the league at 123.5 points per game, were hampered by an overwhelming number of turnovers. Memphis committed 26 turnovers throughout the game, including 19 in the opening three quarters, which allowed the Knicks to capitalize with a 36-14 advantage in points off those turnovers.
On the other hand, Bridges shone not only as a scorer but also as a defender against Memphis’s star guard, Ja Morant. Struggling under Bridges’ defensive pressure, Morant only managed 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting. When Morant was on the floor, Memphis was outscored by a whopping 41 points.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Brunson collected his fourth personal foul with 2:10 remaining in the first half. Jaylen Wells capitalized on this by hitting both of his free throws, narrowing New York’s lead to 53-50. However, the Knicks responded with a 7-2 run to close the half and extended that to a 14-2 run to start the third quarter. New York dominated the second half, outscoring Memphis 83-54.
Another striking statistic from the game was that the Knicks achieved 143 points in just 48 minutes for the second consecutive game—a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in non-overtime games for 45 years.
Looking ahead, the Knicks will welcome the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, while the Grizzlies will host the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
