MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Landry Shamet reminded the Knicks what they were missing when he was out.
The reserve guard turned in 31 productive minutes in Wednesday’s 130-119 victory over the Grizzlies, which followed his five-game absence because of a knee bruise.
Shamet dropped 13 points on 3-of-5 from beyond the arc while providing his usual pesky defense.
The Knicks outscored the Grizzlies by 13 points with Shamet on the court.
Coach Mike Brown was excited for the comeback of one of his favorite players.
“He’s arguably one of our, if not the best, on-ball defenders,” said Brown, whose team went 2-3 without Shamet. “Especially when it comes to ball screens and dribble handoffs. He’s really physical in that area. And you feel him. His pace offensively creates gravity for others. And then his ability to shoot. He can string together two or three 3s. And it can create separation for him and give our group confidence. We had to find other ways. But we missed that from him, especially from his size.”
Shamet, too, was satisfied. But he felt the fatigue that usually accompanies a return.
“I was definitely a little tired at the end of the game,” he said. “The legs — that’s obviously the biggest thing. You can do all you want to stay in shape but playing a real NBA basketball game, that’s like the next layer of your rehab or whatever. You just got to get reps and get your legs back under you. So I felt really good. Just naturally a little heavy at the end. But that’s alright.”
Mikal Bridges played in his 633rd consecutive game Wednesday, eclipsing Andre Miller for the eighth-longest streak in NBA history.
Everybody ahead of Bridges completed their streak in the 1980s or before.
Next up at No. 7 is Harry Gallatin at 682 straight games before he retired in 1958.
“Hopefully, I have kids one day and I’ll brag about it,” Bridges said.
Miles McBride took a night off for load management on a back-to-back, one day after he shot 1-for-9 in a loss to the Rockets.
McBride is easing back from sports hernia surgery, and he has struggled in his two comeback appearances while shooting 1 for 12 combined.
Brown said he’s good with the attempts
“If you’re open, let it fly,” Brown said. “I even told him this before, I don’t care if he’s 0-for-15. I just want him to feel the aggression, get to his spots.”
Brown noted that McBride had a 3-point attempt blocked in the Rockets game, an indication he didn’t have his legs under him yet.
“I don’t think I’ve seen anybody block Deuce’s shot — his 3-point shot. Because he gets so high, he gets lift,” Brown said. “That’s just him not playing. So I want guys like that, if you’re open, let it fly.”
