The New York Knicks are set to continue their five-game homestand on Monday night, hosting the surging Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden. This clash offers the Knicks another opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities against fellow playoff-bound teams.
Both teams were off on Sunday after securing impressive home victories on Saturday night. The Knicks defeated the Sacramento Kings 143-120, while the Grizzlies cruised past the Utah Jazz 125-103.
The win against the Kings marked the Knicks’ third consecutive victory, following a challenging 3-6 stretch from January 3-17. During that period, New York managed just one win against teams that currently hold at least a share of a guaranteed playoff spot. The top six teams in each conference earn an automatic postseason berth, while the next four compete in the play-in tournament for the final two spots.
Overall this season, the Knicks hold an 8-9 record against teams in guaranteed playoff positions and a 22-7 record against everyone else. With four more games against top-six Western Conference opponents during their homestand, the Knicks have the chance to improve their record against strong contenders.
Following Monday’s game against the third-place Grizzlies, the Knicks will host the fourth-place Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, the fifth-place Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, and the second-place Houston Rockets on February 3.
The Knicks hope their dominant start against the Kings, where they took a 38-25 lead after the first quarter, is indicative of their readiness for the remainder of the homestand. They had three days off before the game against Sacramento, which seemed to benefit their performance.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, boast the longest active win streak in the NBA, having won six consecutive games. This streak, the longest of the season for Memphis, matches their previous six-game run from November 20 through December 1.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 28 points on Saturday, continuing a trend of balanced scoring. Memphis had six players in double figures and won by at least 10 points for the fifth time during their streak.
Over the past six games, 11 different Grizzlies players have scored in double figures, even as star guard Ja Morant has missed two games due to a right foot injury and illness.
Rookie center Zach Edey has showcased the Grizzlies’ depth, following a 13-point performance in Friday’s win over New Orleans with a 19-point outing on Saturday. These back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts were Edey’s first since December 26-27.
As the Knicks and Grizzlies face off, the game promises to be a compelling matchup between two teams looking to solidify their standing as formidable playoff contenders.
