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Newcomers Help Knicks Beat Grizzlies 111-104 In Home Opener

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Kristaps Porzingis scored 21 points, Carmelo Anthony had 20 and the New York Knicks used a fast start and strong finish to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 111-104 on Saturday night in their home opener.

Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee all had impressive moments in their first home games at Madison Square Garden, and Anthony converted the three-point play that sparked the decisive spurt.

Rose had a couple of crossovers and quick bursts into the lane that showed his legs looked healthy and scored 13 points. Noah finished with six points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Lee scored 16 points as the Knicks got their first win under coach Jeff Hornacek after falling apart in the second half and getting routed 117-88 by Cleveland in the NBA season opener.

Marc Gasol scored 20 points for the Grizzlies, who climbed out of a 20-3 hole to beat Minnesota at home in their opener and nearly erased an 18-point deficit in this one.

But the Knicks finally put them away with a 12-0 spurt after the Grizzlies had cut it to 87-85. Anthony's three-point play with 7:34 began the run and the Rose capped it off with a basket that made it 99-85 with 5:26 remaining.

The Knicks made 11 of their first 15 shots and even after cooling off a bit led 32-19 after one quarter. They pushed it to 43-25 early in the second but the Grizzlies chipped away before the half, cutting it to 57-49.

Again the Knicks looked in control in the third, pushing the lead back up to 16, but it was down to five by the time the teams headed to the fourth.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Noah got a big ovation during introductions when he was introduced as being from Hell's Kitchen, a neighborhood on the west side of midtown Manhattan. He got another one when he fouled out in the fourth quarter. ... The Knicks snapped a six-game losing streak against Memphis.

Grizzlies: Zach Randolph passed Rudy Gay (479) for third in Grizzlies history in games played. Mike Conley leads the list and Gasol is second. ... The only other time the Grizzlies even won their opener in Memphis was 2014-15, when they started 6-0. ... Tony Allen (right knee) missed his second straight game.

CELEBRATING 70

The Knicks are celebrating their 70th anniversary season and welcomed back a number of former players or their family members. Hall of Famers and NBA champions Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe were among the players taking part in the ceremony.

WELCOME BACK, ZACH

There was a picture outside the Grizzlies' locker room of Randolph — in his Knicks uniform. He was grabbing a rebound in the white and orange No. 50 he wore in parts of two seasons in New York from 2007-09, with the words "Welcome Back" and "Once a Knick, Always a Knick" on the sign. Team officials began doing that this season to welcome back ex-Knicks.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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