N.Y. Knicks: Team Effort Outlasts Grizzlies in Overtime

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

FRIDAY

Grizzlies 129

Knicks    133

FINAL / OVERTIME

EXTRA: The Knicks Are Playing Meaningful Games in April

When you play as hard as the Knicks have this season, and it garners a small measure of success, so too do mild expectations start creeping into the equation.  Entering Friday's game losers of five of their last seven, the Knicks needed a win in order to keep from falling three games below par.  The lowest they've been this season is four games under the .500 mark.

Enter the Memphis Grizzlies, ranked eighth in the Western Conference.  Just the kind of team against which to prove a point.  It wasn't easy, as the contest went into overtime.  But with the stakes raised, the Knickerbockers ultimately prevailed to remain a topical item in the post-season conversation.

Although he only tied for third-most shot attempts and finished as the fourth leading scorer on the team, Julius Randle still posted a triple-double with 15 points, eleven assists, and ten rebounds.  Rather, his teammates on this night were prepared to carry the load.  RJ Barrett led the starters with 20 points in 34 minutes, and Immanuel Quickley matched him with 20 points in 31 minutes off the bench.  Derrick Rose and Alec Burks contributed 19 points apiece also off the bench.  

Memphis got off to an early twelve-point lead in the first quarter and still led by nine points at the half.  But the Knicks' effort in the second and fourth quarters would ultimately force overtime.  Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks each converted a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to seal it for the Knicks.