The Utah Jazz (8-14) beat the Brooklyn Nets last night for their second road win of the season. Despite their record, they’ve put forth spunky efforts on many nights this season. And they have NBA players
(Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, etc.) on their roster. There was reason to expect the Salt City crew to give the Knicks a little bit of challenge tonight, something in the way of competition. They surely wouldn’t be complete and total pushovers.
Brother, let me tell you that was a disastrous performance. New York started the game with a 23-point run and never bothered to check their mirrors. They led 68-47 at halftime, scored a season-high 47 points in the third quarter, and finished with a 146-112 win.
That brings New York’s home record to 12-1. Best in a long time, apparently. Tonight also marked OG Anunoby’s first game back after missing nine with a strained hamstring. Although he looked rusty at times, he provided steady two-way support and 11 points in his 23 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns was a force inside and out, scoring 18 and grabbing nine boards while hitting 4-of-6 from deep. Josh Hart delivered another hustle performance, piling up eight points, six boards and assists, and was a +37 in his 28 minutes. Mikal Bridges played just 20 minutes, probably an overdue breather for the iron man. He scored an efficient 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting. And Jalen Brunson dominated, dropping 33 points and making 6-of-9 from deep in 31 minutes.
With an embarrassment of riches tonight, one might edge out the others: Miles McBride, back with the second unit due to Anunoby’s return, finished with 22 points in 22 minutes, making seven of ten attempts from beyond the arc. He’s made 27 of his last 42 longball attempts. Bench scoring problem: solved.
For the Jazz, Markkanen and George scored 18 each. The team shot 40% and 36%, were out rebounded 46-37 and outscored in the paint 54-36. It’s hard to imagine the Knicks will have a more dominant performance this season.
First Half
The Knicks totally blitzed the Jazz in the opening quarter. New York scored 23 points and held Utah scoreless for the first six-and-a-half minutes, building a lead that eventually reached 28 points. The telecast said it was historic, and according to the NBA’s X feed, “The 23-0 starting run by the Knicks is the largest game-opening run without an opponent point in the PxP era (1997-98).” Wild.
The visitors made just 4-of-23 from the field (17%) and zilch in the paint, while our heroes converted shots at a 61% clip, dominated the glass 20–8, and racked up easy points in transition and at the rim. With a 16–0 advantage in the paint and a 9–0 edge in fast-break scoring, the Knicks finished the period ahead 41-13. That was their second straight first quarter rout; on Wednesday, they limited Charlotte to 12.
Mikal went 5-of-5 in the quarter. Cue the Sweet Georgia Brown:
The Jazz opened Q2 still down big but still showed some fight. Midway through the frame, Utah strung together a few makes by Markkanen, Love, and George, but New York was just taking a breather. McBride hit multiple threes, Hart and Bridges scored in transition, and Robinson hammered home a dunk to keep the margin comfy and cozy. By the buzzer, Utah had outscored the Knicks 34-27 but didn’t once trim the deficit to less than 20. Your intermission score: Knicks, 68-47.
Through the first half, the Knicks hit 51% from the field and nearly 48% from deep, doubled Utah’s paint production (24–10), and beat them in transition. Utah scraped together some threes and free throws, but their 33% shooting and performance in the paint could fairly be described as woeful. Off the bench for New York, Miles “Can’t Miss” McBride’s 16 points on 5‑8 FG (5‑7 3PT) topped the scorecard. Keyonte George had 14 for the Jazz.
Second Half
Has the NBA ever had a mercy rule? By the 3:30 mark, when Deuce McBride drilled back-to-back treys and stretched the differential to 33, my cold, callused heart began to feel some sympathy for the visiting team. Then it got worse. Hart dunked and the lead reached 35. A minute later, Brunson hit another triple and free throws, making it 39. With 30 seconds to go, the lead reached 41. Will Hardy’s boys were waving a white flag, a white towel, white undies—anything they could get their hands on to signal a plea for mercy. New York scored 47 points in the frame, their highest total for a quarter this season. Hell, we’ve seen plenty of games when the Knicks scored less than 47 points in a half.
Heading into the fourth quarter, up 115-77, the Knicks were thoroughly enjoying themselves. The last of the starters subbed out (McBride at the nine minute mark, Anunoby at seven), and the second stringers oversaw the end of the game. What’s that mean? It means that Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, Guerschon Yabusele, and Jordan Clarkson got extra reps, and you get a Mohamed Diawara highlight!
Up Next
The Orlando Magic return to the Garden on Sunday in what should be a more competitive affair. Sleep tight, Knickerbockers.
