MEMPHIS — Ja Morant pulled up for a floater within the fourth quarter, glared on the Knicks bench, tapped his wrist and repeated, “It’s about that point.”
That was earlier within the fourth quarter, and Morant’s “time” prolonged effectively past. He dominated the Knicks within the season opener Wednesday, bringing out his bag of athleticism, wizardry and showmanship to the 115-112 OT victory.
The Knicks had the deeper squad and almost accomplished a powerful comeback from a 19-point deficit. Cam Reddish and Jalen Brunson contributed back-to-back heroic performs to finish regulation. However Morant carried the evening whereas RJ Barrett struggled.
“He’s an all-star. He’s able to doing plenty of issues,” Brunson stated. “He’s excellent with the ball, excellent with making performs. You form of know what he’s going to do however on the similar time he’s unpredictable.”
The “unpredictable” was Morant’s behind-the-back dribble right into a no-look help within the second quarter; then the up-and-under cradled and-one lay-up; then the two-handed block off the glass in OT that grew to become his alley-oop help on the opposite finish. Morant was a sorcerer with the ball, a velocity demon and pogo stick.
The Knicks have been the viewers to his 34 factors and 9 assists.
Nonetheless, the guests put up a combat and capped regulation with dramatics. After trailing for many of the contest, Reddish, who was a shock addition to the rotation earlier than the sport, transformed a game-tying nook three-pointer off Brunson’s dish with three seconds remaining. Morant then almost gained the sport on Memphis’ subsequent possession, however Brunson obtained there first and drew clutch cost.
“That was a terrific play. That’s who [Brunson] is,” Tom Thibodeau stated. “Giving his physique up for the staff. To me, that’s the definition of a playmaker. All of us assume the playmaker makes a go. However a playmaker on the finish of the sport that takes a cost, will get a steal, makes the go. Regardless of the recreation wants, he offers it. I believe he’s the last word playmaker.”
Brunson missed three photographs in OT, nevertheless, and he didn’t have the assistance of Julius Randle, who fouled out simply 24 seconds into the additional interval. Randle was robust with 24 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, however he might solely watch the tip as teammate Evan Fournier missed a possible tying three-pointer on the buzzer.
Reddish was an offensive revelation for the Knicks because the substitute to the injured Quentin Grimes. He scored 22 factors in simply 28 minutes, together with that clutch trey in regulation.
However Barrett was an inefficient mess whereas lacking 15 of his 18 photographs (together with 0-for-6 from past the arc). Days prior, Barrett had stated he was motivated by the circumstances of enjoying towards Morant, the participant picked one spot above him in 2019.
Then Wednesday evening reiterated the draft order. Thibodeau implied Barrett ought to’ve earned extra foul calls.
“I assumed he did a very good job getting within the paint fairly successfully,” the coach stated. “I need to check out once they say, ‘marginal contact.’ Perhaps he must generate extra velocity.”
The Grizzlies entered the season shorthanded, competing Wednesday with out the injured Jaren Jackson Jr., Danny Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks and Ziaire Williams. Considered one of their higher gamers, Desmond Bane, appeared to harm his leg within the second half. They’re among the many contenders within the Western Convention after profitable 56 video games final season however didn’t add a lot to the roster and misplaced Jackson Jr. for an prolonged time following foot surgical procedure.
The Knicks, then again, have been solely lacking Grimes. They have been additionally coming off an encouraging 3-1 preseason that teased the excessive potential of a beginning lineup with Brunson operating the present.
However they warned the common season was a special animal, a special strain and depth. In addition they didn’t need to play towards Morant till Wednesday.
That was the largest distinction.
“In each recreation, there’s the great performs and the unhealthy performs,” Thibodeau stated. “And I assumed there have been extra good than unhealthy. However to get the place we need to go, we have to get quite a bit higher.”
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