The New York Knicks fall to the Memphis Grizzlies 123-127. Brunson tried to will the team to the finish line but missed two late-game shots.
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The New York Knicks suffered defeat at the wire against the Memphis Grizzlies. New York trailed for most of the matchup but shuffled one-point leads with Memphis in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson took over in the final minutes, but he missed two shots to end the game, which made the difference. However, the Knicks’ failure to get stops was the real issue in this loss.
Twice in a row, the Knicks played a competitive game but came up short. Let’s look at the brutal loss and see where the Knicks can improve to flip these results.
The Knicks’ starters compete but come up short
Jalen Brunson: 30 PTS (8/19 FG, 3/5 3PT, 11/12 FT), 9 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 36 mins
Jalen Brunson turned a strong performance into a spectacular one with 17 points in the fourth quarter. He’d already provided the Knicks with excellent playmaking and solid scoring prior. But the fourth quarter saw even RJ Barrett and Julius Randle defer to Brunson, who continually made basket after basket. He came up short at the end of regulation, but Brunson was why New York had a fighting chance.
This individual performance isn’t much different from Brunson’s recent output. Over the last four games, he’s averaged 31 points, a 52 field goal percentage, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 turnovers per game. The fact that New York has lost three of those four games is a testament that he needs more help from his supporting cast.
My other notes on Brunson mainly question how long he can keep this up. He limped into the tunnel after his first stint on the court but didn’t show pain while he played. The wheels might fall off if New York’s leader misses much time. Brunson receives a 4.5 out of 5 with the perfect score eluding him by one game-winning basket.
Quentin Grimes: 5 PTS (2/7 FG, 1/4 3PT), 4 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 26 mins
Quentin Grimes’ only issue is with finding his jump shot. Grimes got his shots off with time to gather and fire, but he was still off the mark. But the good news is that he still did everything else well. He got into the paint off hard cuts and quick moves on the catch. That allowed him to finish a couple of nice layups and feed others with impressive passes.
Grimes’ defense was great as well. He especially stood out working with Mitchell Robinson to contain Ja Morant in the first half. So I was a little disappointed that Thibodeau left Grimes on the bench during some crucial fourth-quarter possessions. Although to be fair, I don’t think anyone was stopping Morant without the refs interceding during the fourth.
My last big note is that Grimes’ approach is rubbing off on others. He picks up an assist or two a game by receiving the pass on a cut into the lane and making quick touch passes to the dunker’s spot. We saw Cam Reddish make that same play in this game, and RJ Barrett is also spotting it more often. Grimes gets a 2.5 out of 5 for his night, and the jumper is all he needs for higher scores.
RJ Barrett: 22 PTS (9/18 FG, 2/6 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 7 REB, 2 TO in 37 mins
RJ Barrett is getting his mojo back. He didn’t connect on threes until the second half, but Barrett was better at choosing when to attack the lane and when to pass the ball. That simple change left him with more time and space when he made decisions in the paint. The result was his second game with high efficiency in the past eight that he’s played.
I’ll also mention Barrett’s defense again because it’s slowly trending up. Admittedly, that’s a minor victory because his defensive play had been borderline abysmal. But even playing average defense can help RJ return to more consistent positive contributions.
Although the young prospect is frustratingly streaky, we’re hitting a hot streak. This is the second game in his past three with over 50 percent shooting from the field, and more importantly, he’s tagging the tertiary stats again. He’s grabbing eight rebounds and dishing nearly four dimes a game in the past three. Barretts nets a 3.5 out of 5 for a solid night.
Julius Randle: 14 PTS (4/9 FG, 1/5 3PT, 5/6 FT), 9 AST, 10 REB, 1 TO in 35 mins
Julius Randle struggled with his jumper and failed to get into the paint consistently on offense. The Grizzlies sent help over when Randle drove, and he responded by making extra passes. That helped Randle turn a fourteen-point game into one of his most well-rounded performances of the season.
Randle didn’t force shots and didn’t let the lack of field goals drain his energy in other areas. The big man was a force on the boards, where he was most needed. He also threw a season-high nine assists. By simplifying his approach, he cut his turnovers down to just one. For perspective, he’s had one turnover or less in just three of the first twenty games.
Randle was good. He could be great if that jumper falls, but we’ll take good. The big man still has issues with late rotations. But I can give him a pass when he does everything else well. Randle adds a 3 out of 5 for his impact.
Mitchell Robinson: 16 PTS (6/7 FG, 4/7 FT), 7 REB, 5 BLK in 32 mins
Mitchell Robinson is starting to look like his old self. The big man was an absolute force in the middle at both ends. His offense came easy, with cutters and slashers drawing Memphis before feeding the Center at the rim. Even when he didn’t receive the pass, he cleaned up the glass.
Mitch was also impressive on defense, tallying five blocks against a constant attack from Memphis ball-handlers. However, the most remarkable aspect was that he didn’t sniff foul trouble, picking up most of his fouls late in the fourth quarter — any Knick that breathed on Ja would’ve been called for a foul during that time.
The opponent matters in this big performance. The Grizzlies had Steven Adams and Jaren Jackson out there, but Mitch still imposed his will on portions of this action. There aren’t many teams with big bodies to match that pressure. This shows us what a force Robinson could become if he keeps the fouling in check. Mitch gets a 3.5 out of 5 on the night.
A pair of returns mark the Knicks’ second-unit performance
Derrick Rose: 6 PTS (3/7 FG, 0/2 3PT), 1 REB in 12 mins
Derrick Rose hit the lanes for some nice finishes, showing few, if any, ill effects from his recent toe injury. But Rose failed to knock down a couple of open looks that would have taken his scoring performance to another level.
The rest of Rose’s performance was forgettable. He only played 12 minutes and spent some of that time playing off-ball. That leaves him with an incomplete impact. Let’s wait to see how his role takes shape to measure.
Immanuel Quickley: 6 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/1 3PT, 1/1 FT), 2 AST, 3 REB in 9 mins
It felt like Immanuel Quickley was poised for a big night. He quickly scored points after entering the game, and his first three-pointer barely touched the net as it went through the cup. IQ also added some playmaking and a few nice rebounds in short order. But he hurt his knee and left the game after nine minutes.
Cam Reddish: 11 PTS (4/6 FG, 1/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 1 STL in 24 mins
Cam Reddish picked up a technical foul after locking arms with Dillon Brooks. He made up for losing his head by stealing the ball on the ensuing possession and breaking for two points. Reddish continually contributed timely plays, including some clutch fourth-quarter baskets. His ability to weave into the paint and finish around traffic is impeccable.
The athletic wing’s decision-making and rhythm on offense seemed unaffected by his brief absence due to injury. Cam made the extra pass multiple times, picking up a pair of assists and otherwise making good decisions with the rock.
Cam’s defense was strong, as we’ve become accustomed to. He wasn’t immune to the ref’s heavy-handed whistles, but Reddish avoided terrible fouls. He’s playing too well not to consider a significant role in the future. Cam gets a 3 out of 5 for some key baskets and solid defense.
Obi Toppin: 9 PTS (4/8 FG, 1/4 3PT), 3 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 15 mins
Obi Toppin had a bit of a battle with the Memphis bigs. He struggled to keep them off the boards but handled their physicality well in terms of finishing inside. Those buckets in the paint were vital because he shot the ball poorly from behind the arc.
Toppin’s defense had some pleasant moments, including the block listed on his line. Though the results were mixed, he didn’t shy away from contact with the Grizzlies’ strongest players.
Obi scored at an impressive rate but didn’t provide enough in other areas to avoid a quick hook. I wouldn’t have minded more time for the promising young big, but I understand the shorter role given New York’s struggles on the glass. Toppin gets a 2 out of 5 for impact.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 4 PTS (2/3 FG, 0/1 3PT), 4 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 15 mins
I wasn’t thrilled with Isaiah Hartenstein’s performance in this game. I might have to chalk that up to my Jericho Sims bias because Hartenstein wasn’t bad. The worst thing Hart did was airmail a wide-open three from one of the corners. But he was solid the rest of the way.
I continue to dislike Hart’s defense in drop coverage. He always feels a step behind, which may relate to an injury he recently mentioned. But all we have to work with is what we see, and his lateral movement sometimes hurts the defense.
Hart gets a 1.5 out of 5 for limited impact in a limited time. He wasn’t horrible, just quiet.
Crafting a consistent rotation might be impossible for Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau can’t catch a break. As soon as he gets back a pair of contributing players, his hottest bench scorer leaves with a knee issue. It’s tough to blame Thibodeau for the second unit’s inconsistency. But the injuries have also helped him avoid certain dilemmas.
The Knicks needed stops late in this game, but Thibodeau failed to pair his best two perimeter defenders on the floor until the final two possessions of the action. RJ Barrett and Julius Randle played well enough tonight to give Thibodeau a pass for sticking with them. But they were afterthoughts on offense with Brunson running the show, so replacing one with a defender seems like a realistic option.
Benching a top-three player on the roster for defensive reasons is easier said than done, however. So I’ll give Thibodeau a 2.5 out of 5 because he’s navigated the constant roster turnover well so far.
Closing Thoughts
We have much to be encouraged by in these losses, but I’m still frustrated. New York had a golden opportunity to finish the first 20 games with a winning record, or at least .500. They faced two good opponents, but both teams were missing key players. The Knicks fought hard, and that’s commendable, but they came up short by one possession both times.
It looks like Grimes, Cam, and Mitch will all be healthy at the same time for once. RJ Barrett and IQ are showing signs of getting their efficiency in check. Julius Randle plays team ball more often, and Jalen Brunson has been incredible. There’s a lot of optimism to glean from the potential of this team moving forward.
But results have to follow. The Knicks are two games under .500 at the season’s quarter mark, and they’re sitting just outside the play-in range. This isn’t horseshoes or hand grenades; so close won’t cut it. They can’t tread water much longer. It’s time to make a push because December 15th is when teams start choosing directions and making trades.
The Pistons are next, representing an excellent chance to pick up a win. That’s a critical matchup because the schedule is demanding for a while after. It’s a perfect chance to turn these close losses into winning momentum. We’ll discuss it after the action. I’ll see you then, Knicks fam!
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