Knicks welcome struggling Memphis to MSG
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks will try to gain some momentum Saturday afternoon when they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to a Madison Square Garden matinee.
The Knicks have alternated losses and wins over their last six, but dropped their last home game, a 102-101 setback to the Washington Wizards. On Wednesday, they atoned for the loss with a 107-101 double-overtime victory in Milwaukee over the Bucks.
One common theme in both of those contests was late-game collapses.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Against the Wiz, Bradley Beal drove to the basket uncontested for the game- winning layup. Then, the Knicks elected not to take a timeout with 5.9 seconds on the clock.
Carmelo Anthony received the ball, but his running 3-pointer over two Washington defenders from the right wing ricocheted off the backboard.
"I probably should've taken the timeout at the end for sure," Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said. "That's on me."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two nights later, a returning Tyson Chandler got an offensive rebound with the Knicks up two and 12 seconds left on the clock in the first overtime. He kicked it out to Andrea Bargnani, who, instead of dribbling out the clock, fired up a 3-pointer and missed.
"I don't know if (Bargnani) thought we were down...but obviously he had something else going on in his mind at the time," Woodson said.
John Henson of Milwaukee scored on a tip-in, but New York survived in the second overtime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anthony led the Knicks with 29 points in over 55 minutes. Beno Udrih finished with 21 while J.R. Smith set a team record with 17 attempted 3-pointers en route to 19 points. (He made five.) Bargnani chipped in 12 and Chandler played 36:30 in his first game back after a broken bone in his leg with nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Grizz have been bad of late, losing five in a row. Their most recent setback came Wednesday night in Dallas. Memphis fell 105-91. shooting less than 40 percent from the field and holding the Mavs to just under 55 percent shooting.
Tony Allen had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jon Leuer and Zach Randolph both had 14, followed by 12 from Ed Davis and 11 out of James Johnson.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mike Conley missed his second straight with a bruised quadriceps, while Tayshaun Prince sat with a sore knee.
The Knicks, who have lost both of their home matinees this season by an average of 36 points, have won three of the last four at MSG over the Grizzlies.