Last season, the Knicks’ (6-3) largest margin of victory was 37 points in a January game against the Grizzlies. Tonight, just nine games into the season, they came close to matching that in a blistering beat down of the Brooklyn Nets (1-9). Final score: 134-98. Still undefeated at MSG, punks!
The Knicks cooked the Nets 40-22 in the first quarter. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns dictated the tempo, while OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges flexed on both ends of the floor. The home team attacked the paint,
whipped the ball about, and closed the period on a 20-6 surge that electrified the Garden.
All evening long, the Knicks overwhelmed the Nets on every level. Despite surrendering 40 points in the second period, our heroes maintained control straight through til halftime, taking a 77-62 lead into the break. Towns and Anunoby had powered another push, Brunson and Jordan Clarkson ran amok, and the ’Bockers sank a slew of threes while finishing strong at the rim.
Through one half, the Knicks had shot 65% from the field and 56% from three, tallying 20 assists on 28 made baskets. They poured in 36 points in the paint, hustled for nine fast-break points, and limited their mistakes. Brooklyn did hit nearly half their shots but had no counter to New York’s precision and pace.
The Knicks came out blazing after the break. They opened the third with 12 unanswered points en route to a 39-point lead. They eclipsed 100-points with fourish minutes left in the quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 35-17 for a 112-79 advantage heading to the fourth. Brunson barely broke a sweat, Towns and Robinson owned the interior, and Josh Hart delivered his customary energy as the Knicks roasted the Nets’ marshmallow defense.
The Knicks cruised through the fourth to seal the blowout. KAT and OG led the charge to push the maintain the lead until the reserves took over. New York’s bench brought the energy, with Mohamed Diawara and Guerschon Yabusele adding late buckets as the Knicks coasted to a wire-to-wire win. That makes it 11 straight over the Barclays Bunch.
Up Next
My notes say that Mr. Zeno has a recap coming your way. Then Ja Morant (if still on the team) and the Memphis Grizzlies visit on Tuesday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
