Statement Win: Knicks Maul the Grizzlies

For Knicks fans searching for signs that this team is capable of making a memorable playoff run this Spring, they needn't look any further than the 48 mins of dominance displayed Monday night at MSG.

Final Score: Knicks 143 - Grizzlies 106
Record: 31-16

Memphis entered Madison Square Garden Monday night riding a six-game winning streak, the longest active run in the league. The deep and well-balanced Grizzlies not only lead the NBA in scoring (123.5 points per game) but also rank just outside the top 5 in defensive rating. Only three teams in the Association have more wins.

Registering a win against an elite opponent would have been encouraging enough, but New York (who had yet to beat one of the top-3 teams in either conference before Monday) did more than simply escape with a victory. They demolished the Grizz, blowing them out of the building and running them off the floor. 

The Knicks' offense was humming in the first half and then kicked into overdrive after halftime. In 24 second-half minutes, New York scored a whopping 83 points. There were highlight dunks and beautiful passes interspersed with net-ripping three-pointers. It was the type of dynamic offensive synergy that long-suffering fans of this team have only dreamed about. 

Incredibly, the 'Bockers have scored 143 points in each of their past two contests. It's just the second time in franchise history (and the first time since 1965) that they've poured in 140+ points in back-to-back games.

Mikal Bridges was the team's leading scorer in Monday's victory, tallying 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting. He also racked up five rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks, and two 3-pointers in 34 minutes.  

As if that weren't enough, Bridges also put the clamps on the Grizzlies' top gun. The typically high-flying Ja Morant was grounded Monday night at MSG, finishing with just ten points (5-of-13 FGs) and twice as many turnovers (4) as assists (2). 

Bridges posted a ridiculous plus/minus of +43, the highest of his career. Per Basketball Reference, he became the first Knick to score more than 25 points with a +/- north of 40 while playing less than 35 minutes.