New York Knicks too good from three-point land for Memphis Grizzlies

New York Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies at MSG

The New York Knicks have often been criticized for not playing good enough defense to be championship contenders this season. But for one night at least, defense hardly mattered.

Knicks guard Toney Douglas drained 9 of a team record 20 three point shots to beat the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 120-99 at Madison Square Garden.

Douglas became just the third player in New York Knicks history to make nine 3-pointers in a single game. Latrell Sprewell and John Starks were the other two.

"They gave me 3's," Douglas said of the Grizzlies after the game. "So I took them. Once I started hitting, I felt like there was no defense out there."

Douglas was not the only Knick player who became hot from three-point land. Carmelo Anthony had three 3-pointers, while Chauncey Billups, Shawne Williams, Landry Fields and Roger Mason also hit threes. Overall, the New York Knicks made 20 out of 36 shots from beyond the arc.

The Grizzlies defense limited Amare Stoudemire to a relatively quiet 16 points and 9 boards, but could not overcome the hot shooting by the Knicks.

Even the New York Knicks played a little defense too, holding Memphis' Zach Randolph to 14 points and 6 rebounds. The Grizzlies were without Rudy Gay who is out with a partially separated shoulder injury.

"When there is a sense of urgency, we do O.K.," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "You're not going to shoot like this all the time, I know that. But the defense, the intensity, the teamwork and all that, that should be a staple, every night. And I don't think we've been there."

Despite the hot shooting night, there is a lot of room for improvement on the defensive end for the New York Knicks.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Friday March 18 2011, 8:28 AM EST. Ref: NYT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0