The Knicks saw their nine-game winning streak end Saturday night in a surprising 113-105 home defeat to the Lakers.
New York continues its six-game homestand Tuesday against the banged-up Grizzlies, who limp into the Garden on a five-game losing streak after dropping a 131-91 decision at Boston as 19.5-point underdogs.
Ja Morant is out for the season, while center Jaren Jackson, Jr. and guard Desmond Bane sat out the loss to the Celtics, which marked Memphis’ second straight defeat by 20 or more points.
The Knicks were on their way to a 10th straight victory Saturday but were outscored 33-19 by the Lakers in the fourth quarter.
It was their first loss since Jan. 15 to Orlando and only their third defeat in 18 tries in the new calendar year.
Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo combined for 62 points, marking the fourth straight game the Knicks’ starting backcourt went for at least 60.
While Brunson looks like a legitimate MVP candidate, DiVincenzo has been on a heater himself, averaging 27 ppg over his past four games.
When these teams met on Jan. 13, the Knicks defeated the Grizzlies, 106-94, as 11-point favorites.
New York overcame a four-point halftime deficit by outscoring Memphis in the third quarter, 30-15.
Two factors will be different Tuesday from the team’s first matchup.
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Julius Randle, who scored 24 points that night, will miss his fifth game in a row with a shoulder injury.
But this time the Knicks will have Brunson, who sat out the first meeting with a calf injury.
The Knicks have cashed the Under in 11 of their past 12 games, while the Grizzlies are 6-2 to the Under in their past eight.
Let’s look for those trends to continue with another low-scoring affair.
THE PLAY: Knicks-Grizzlies Under 213.5 points (-110, BetMGM).
