The Knicks were the team with syncopation, improvisation, rhythm and spontaneity from the start, all the traits that make jazz the wonderful art form it always has been.
They also happened to be the elements Friday night that completely deconstructed the Jazz at the Garden.
The Knicks netted the first 23 points of the game and led by 28 through one quarter before cruising to a thorough 146-112 annihilation of Utah for their sixth win in seven games.
“I thought our guys did a nice job. They came out locked in defensively, especially to start the game,” Mike Brown said. “I thought we did a good job of moving the basketball and trying to play with pace and spacing.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after he hits a 3-point shot over Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen during the first quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I thought all of our offensive staples were good, while we tried to do what we needed to defensively. … Collectively, that’s a good win for us.”
Jalen Brunson netted 13 of his 33 points in the opening period, and Miles McBride nailed seven 3-pointers and totaled 22 points in 21 minutes off the bench for the Knicks (15-7).
“I definitely do pay attention to the scoreboard, looking up, especially as a point guard,” McBride said. “The starters got us rocking, so it was easy to do my job.”
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride is greeted by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 after scoring during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
OG Anunoby returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury Nov. 14 and added 11 points in 23 minutes.
With his defensive starter back in uniform, Brown turned to last season’s most-used starting lineup under predecessor Tom Thibodeau, keeping Josh Hart with the starters while sliding McBride back to the second unit.
When asked what he learned about his team in Anunoby’s absence, Brown said, “It’s a deep team and it’s a diverse team. We mix and match in a lot of different ways. Those are probably the two biggest things. The reality of it is everybody works extremely hard and is trying to stay ready to play, no matter if your number is called or not.”
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby puts up a 3-point shot during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Anunoby helped the Knicks hold the Jazz to no points over nearly the first seven minutes of the game with an 0-for-12 misfiring start.
The Knicks’ 23-0 lead marked the team’s largest lead to open a game since play-by-play tracking began in 1996-97, according to MSG Network. 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 Feb. 4, 1987.
After Brunson’s 3-pointer made it 23-zip, Keyonte George finally converted an and-1 shot from the elbow with 5:27 left in quarter for Utah’s first points of the game.
Former Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson also buried a trey for a 28-3 bulge, 4:14 left before three free throws from Brunson and a traditional three-point play by Anunboy ballooned the cushion to 28.
Brunson’s triple at the end of the quarter made it 41-13, with the Knicks captain equaling 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 barely four minutes left before halftime to extend the advantage to 29 before the Jazz rallied to close within 68-47 at intermission.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We still didn’t play our best in the second quarter, but the way we came out in the third and just tried to increase the lead, that made up for it,” Brunson said. “Happy with the way we responded.”
Indeed, Utah trimmed the lead under 20 on another George bucket in the opening minute of the second half, but two more 3-pointers apiece from McBride and Brunson and another by Clarkson (16 points) amid a 24-7 splurge ballooned the cushion to 41 late in the period and to 115-77 entering the fourth.
“We let our foot off the gas a little bit at the end of the second quarter, and I challenged them at the start of the second half, and our guys responded at the start of the third,” Brown said. “So, I take my hat off to everybody in the group, and everybody on the team, top to bottom.”
