From the beginning, the Knicks have been the team of syncopation, improvisation, rhythm and spontaneity, all qualities that make jazz the beautiful art form it has always been.
They also happened to be the elements that completely deconstructed Jazz at the Garden on Friday evening.
The Knicks scored the first 23 points of the game and led by 28 for a quarter before cruising to a thorough 146-112 demolition of Utah for their sixth win in seven games.
Jalen Brunson scored 13 of his 33 points in the opening period, and Miles McBride made seven 3-pointers and scored 22 points in 22 minutes off the bench for the Knicks (15-7).
OG Anunoby returned to the lineup for the first time since his hamstring injury on November 14, adding 11 points in 23 minutes.
With his defensive starter back in uniform, Mike Brown turned to the most-used starting lineup from last season under predecessor Tom Thibodeau, keeping Josh Hart among the starters while returning McBride to the second unit.
When asked what he learned about his team in Anunoby’s absence, Brown said: “It’s a deep team and a diverse team. We mix and match in a lot of different ways. Those are probably the two biggest things. The reality is that everyone works extremely hard and tries to stay ready to play regardless of whether your number is called or not.”
Anunoby helped the Knicks hold the Jazz to zero points for nearly the first seven minutes of the game with an 0-for-12 failure start.
According to MSG Network, the Knicks’ 23–0 lead was the team’s largest lead to open a game since play-by-play tracking began in 1996–97.
The NBA record for most consecutive points to start a game before the opponent scored was 29, set by the Lakers against the Kings on February 4, 1987.
After Brunson’s 3-pointer made it a 23-zip, Keyonte George finally converted an and-1 shot from the elbow with 5:27 left in the quarter for Utah’s first points of the game.
Former Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson also buried a trey for a 28-3 bulge with 4:14 left before three free throws from Brunson and a traditional three-point play from Anunboy pushed the tie to 28.
Brunson’s triple at the end of the quarter made it 41-13, with the Knicks captain matching Utah’s collective offensive output in the quarter.
The Jazz finished the period 4-for-23 from the floor, while the Knicks converted 14 of their 23, including five of 10 from long distance.
McBride converted a four-point play with just four minutes left before halftime to extend the lead to 29 before the Jazz rallied to close within 68-47 at intermission.
Utah cut the lead to under 20 on another George bucket in the opening minute of the second half, but two more 3-pointers from McBride and Brunson and another from Clarkson amid a 24-7 outburst pushed the lead to 41 late in the period and to 115-77 entering the fourth.
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