Knicks Dominate Jazz With Historic Opening Surge 146-112/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The New York Knicks opened with a historic 23-0 run against the Utah Jazz, marking the NBA’s largest game-starting run since full play-by-play tracking began in 1997. They led by 28 after the first quarter and cruised to a 146-112 victory. Deuce McBride hit seven threes for 22 points, while Utah struggled early with missed shots.
Knicks Historic Start Quick Looks
- Knicks opened with a 23-0 scoring run, an NBA record since 1997.
- First-quarter score was 41-13, New York’s largest ever in play-by-play era.
- Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson sparked the dominant opening.
- Jazz missed first 12 shots, finally scored with 5:27 left in Q1.
- Deuce McBride hit 7 threes off the bench, scoring 22 points.
- OG Anunoby returned after missing nine games with a hamstring injury.
- Utah shot just 17.4% (4 for 23) in the first quarter.
- Knicks posted their highest scoring game of the season at 146 points.
- Jazz also suffered similar 28-point first-quarter deficit vs. Minnesota in November.
- Coach Will Hardy blamed execution, not travel fatigue, for the slow start.
Deep Look: Knicks Open With NBA-Record 23-0 Run in Blowout Win Over Jazz
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks exploded out of the gate Friday night at Madison Square Garden, starting the game on a record-breaking 23-0 run against the Utah Jazz, the largest opening run in any NBA game since full play-by-play tracking began in 1997.
By the end of the first quarter, the Knicks had built a 41-13 lead, powered by lights-out shooting, aggressive defense, and a Jazz squad that couldn’t buy a basket. It was the Knicks’ largest first-quarter lead in the modern play-by-play era — and they never looked back, eventually coasting to a 146-112 victory, their highest-scoring game of the season.
Lights-Out Start by New York
The game began with Karl-Anthony Towns drilling a three-pointer to open the scoring. By the time Jalen Brunson added another from beyond the arc, the Knicks had tallied 23 straight points before Utah managed to score.
“We were just executing,” Brunson said after the game. “You’re not thinking about the numbers — you’re locked in on doing your job.”
That stretch set a modern NBA record for the most consecutive points scored by one team to open a game. Utah missed its first 12 shot attempts, finally getting on the scoreboard when Keyonte George converted a three-point play with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the Knicks were hitting on all cylinders. Guard Deuce McBride, coming off the bench due to OG Anunoby’s return from injury, drained seven three-pointers and contributed 22 points. He said he was well aware of the scoreboard as the numbers kept growing.
“I definitely do pay attention to the scoreboard,” McBride said. “As a point guard, I’m always looking up. But credit to the starters — they got us going, so my job was easy tonight.”
Jazz Struggle to Keep Pace
It was a night to forget for the Jazz, who were playing their second game in as many nights. Despite mounting a 42-point fourth-quarter comeback against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, they had nothing left in the tank against New York’s relentless start.
In that first quarter, the Jazz shot 4 for 23 (17.4%), and looked completely disjointed on both ends. Forward Lauri Markkanen acknowledged that the early deficit was too much to overcome.
“We were getting some good looks early — just couldn’t knock them down,” Markkanen said. “Against a team like this, that kind of start is almost impossible to recover from.”
Utah had already been on the wrong side of a similar blowout earlier this season, trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves by 28 points after one quarter in a game back in November.
Knicks Keep Pressure On
While Utah tried to make small runs in the second half, the outcome was never in doubt. The Knicks’ offensive firepower was too much. The team hit 24 three-pointers, mirroring their recent high-efficiency trend from beyond the arc.
Friday also marked the return of OG Anunoby, who missed nine games with a strained hamstring. His presence brought stability to the Knicks’ starting five, and the team’s defensive intensity returned to form.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau credited his team’s focus and preparation. “You always want to start fast and set the tone, but this was something special,” Thibodeau said. “We were locked in from the opening possession.”
Jazz Coach Reflects on Tough Schedule
While some might point to Utah’s demanding travel schedule — two games in two nights on opposite coasts — coach Will Hardy didn’t use that as an excuse. The Jazz flew across the country just to play the Nets and Knicks on consecutive nights.
“Ten hours on a plane to play two games isn’t ideal,” Hardy said, “but every team goes through tough stretches. We just didn’t execute well, and it showed.”
Markkanen echoed the sentiment. “Our energy was there,” he said. “We just couldn’t hit shots, and that kills your rhythm against a team that hot.”
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