Knicks wallop Grizzlies in 143-106 rout of Western Conference title contender

NEW YORK — The Memphis Grizzlies’ rotations go 11 players deep.

They boast two All-Stars: electrifying guard Ja Morant and Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. Their reserves are stacked with size, with the first four players off the bench standing 6-5 or taller. They are physical, fast-paced, and hold the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed. On paper, they seemed poised to expose the Knicks’ weaknesses on Monday night.

“We definitely have leaned into more 10-man and 11-man rotations. We want to be the most intense-playing team, the fastest-playing team,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said ahead of tipoff on Monday. “We’ve got a lot of depth on this team, and the more we can have those fresh bodies … [we can] bring different waves of guys throughout the game and still have that ability to guard on the other side.”

But basketball games aren’t played on paper.

Despite profiling as a team built to exploit New York’s perceived shortcomings — depth, size, and struggles against top-tier competition — the Grizzlies left Madison Square Garden with their tails tucked between their legs.

The Knicks obliterated Memphis 143-106, delivering their second consecutive blowout win against a Western Conference playoff contender.

The Grizzlies arrived in New York riding a six-game win streak, including back-to-back victories over the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz. They were playing their third game in four nights, but this is exactly where their 11-man rotation should have provided an edge. Instead, the Knicks flipped the script, overwhelming Memphis in every phase of the game.

Morant, averaging about 21 points and eight assists this season, was held to just 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

Desmond Bane, the team’s second-leading scorer, managed 16 points on 6 of 14 from the field.

By the end of the third quarter, the Knicks had already put up 102 points. In the fourth, they turned the game into a showcase of fast breaks and highlight-reel dunks, leaving no doubt about the outcome.

The Knicks rank as having the NBA’s sixth-slowest pace, but you wouldn’t know it from their recent play. They’ve now scored 140 or more points in back-to-back games — first against the up-tempo Kings and now against the league-fastest Grizzlies.

“The thing is: We don’t like to play slow either,” Tom Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff on Monday. “If you dug into the numbers, and you look at fast break points and the things that we do, the thing is you have to attack and beat their size down the floor.

“We want to play a certain style. We’ve gotta be strong on both sides of the ball, that’s the challenge. They’re very good defensively, as well. The game tells you what to do. Just take good quality shots, that’s what you have to do to win. And understand what we have to get done defensively.”

That purpose was evident on Monday.

Mikal Bridges led the charge with 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting, using his length to neutralize Morant on the defensive end. Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 20 points and six assists.

The Knicks’ bench also stepped up. Precious Achiuwa and Miles McBride each chipped in 14 points, Cameron Payne added 11, and Landry Shamet knocked down two key 3s.

The second unit outscored Memphis’ bench 52-45, further undercutting the Grizzlies’ supposed depth advantage.

Maybe it’s rest.

The Knicks had two extended breaks between games last week and will enjoy another three-day reprieve after their upcoming Feb. 3-4 back-to-back against Houston and Toronto.

Or maybe it’s growth.

After losing six of nine games earlier this month, New York appears to have made adjustments, addressing the flaws that once cost them winnable games.

Whatever the reason, they’re not just winning — they’re beating the caliber of opponents that have historically caused them trouble. The Grizzlies were supposed to exploit New York’s lack of depth and size. Instead, it was the Knicks who dictated the terms.

The Knicks now sit neck-and-neck with Boston for the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed.

Up next, they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, aiming to replicate their season-high 145-point performance in a 27-point win over Denver in November.

For now, the Knicks are proving they can beat good teams — and more importantly, that they won’t keep losing the same way. As the season’s toughest stretch looms, that adaptability could make all the difference.

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