Garden Party

We've been waiting for a signature win, and the Knicks finally delivered.

Good MORNING! Holy Moses, was that something else…

Before we get to one of the more fun newsletters of this season (complete with a Top 5 Things I Loved from last night), allow me a moment for a shameless plug on behalf of my daughter Scarlett Rae, who is selling girl scout cookies for the first time. Thanks to all of you who already bought cookies after seeing my initial pitch on the Kings postgame, but if anyone hasn’t gotten in on the action yet, here’s the link. If you buy a box, just shoot an email to knicksfilmschool@gmail.com with a screenshot of your purchase, and I’ll be happy to give you a shout out on the pod or here, whichever you prefer.

Thanks so much for helping to support a good cause. Let’s get to the game.

Game 47: Knicks 143, Grizzlies 106

• Woo-wee.

• New York was locked in on defense from the opening tip, and while some Memphis offensive boards and cold Knick shooting kept the lead at eight at the half, things were looking up.

• The dome blew off in the third quarter, when the Knicks repeatedly turned over the Grizzlies en route to a 27-point advantage. Memphis briefly made it interesting before a fourth quarter explosion set off pandemonium in MSG.

• Every Knick was good, but Mikal Bridges was outstanding.

• Thibs trusted the bench, and no starter played more than 34 minutes.

Been writing this newsletter for five and a half years.

Been writing about the Knicks for going on a decade.

Been watching this team since 1993.

Never in my life have I witnessed something quite like last night.

When you play the Memphis Grizzlies, one of the toughest, most consistently formidable opponents in the NBA, your antennas are up for numerous possible outcomes.

A dogfight. A nail-biter. A track-meet. A war.

Not making my list going into this one: a dunk contest.

But that’s exactly what broke out down the stretch after New York blew open the game in the third quarter, and then after a little sloppiness allowed the Grizzlies to creep back within shouting distance, re-opened that gaping wound with an even more inspiring onslaught in the fourth.

Whatever you were hoping to see from this Knicks team in a matchup with an undeniably serious opponent, this game checked that box. It had everything we needed, everything we wanted, and some stuff we didn’t even know we wanted, but boy did it feel good to get.

It was the type of game that warrants a list. Without further ado…

5 Things I Loved About the Grizzlies Game

1. The Defense

When did the Knicks become the Oklahoma City Thunder?