Knicks hit team-record 20 treys in win

They were chanting the word mere seconds into the game, imploring the Knicks to step up the aspect of their game that's been ripped to shreds by the critics.

The Grizzlies had barely brought the ball into the frontcourt on their first possession when Knicks fans started screaming "Dee-fense!" But there was no need for them to worry because their offense was so good.

Behind an extremely balanced attack that included a franchise-record 20 three-point baskets, solid ball movement, and Toney Douglas tying a franchise mark for three-pointers made in a game, the Knicks dismantled the Grizzlies, 120-99, at the Garden Thursday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

The win slid them back into sole possession of sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Sixers.

"It means a lot, anytime you can stop the bleeding and we did,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We are just going to have to find the energy and the consistency that we play like this all the time.''

The Knicks (35-32), who shot 20-for-36 (55.6 percent) from three-point range, topping the previous mark of 19 set against the Grizzlies on Nov. 12, 2008, pulled away in the third quarter. Douglas, the sometimes erratic guard, drained a trio of three-pointers in the third, including a pair in the quarter's final 38.3 seconds.

Douglas canned his eighth three-pointer with 3.6 seconds left in the third, handing the Knicks a 92-74 advantage and essentially rendering the fourth quarter meaningless. About the only intrigue left was whether Douglas could at least tie or break the Knicks' franchise record of nine three-pointers made in a game.

With 17.8 seconds left, Douglas swished his ninth, tying the mark shared by Latrell Sprewell and John Starks and putting the exclamation point on an impressive 29-point night. He hit 10 of 14 shots from the floor and 9 of 12 from behind the arc.

Carmelo Anthony pumped in 19 of his 28 points in the first half, helping the Knicks take a 59-51 lead into the locker room. Amar'e Stoudemire, who began the game sporting his new custom-made Nike goggles but went back to his old ones before the first half's conclusion, had 16 points and nine rebounds. Chauncey Billups totaled 18 points and eight assists.

Offense, though, isn't necessarily the Knicks' biggest problem. Their defensive struggles have been well-chronicled and there still were areas of deficiency Thursday night.

Stoudemire still had trouble with his pick-and-roll defense, at times leaving forward Darrell Arthur open for uncontested jumpers.

But for one night at least, the Knicks' didn't have to worry about any defensive shortcomings.

"The whole thing we are looking at is the defense and make sure the intensity is right and we are all on the same page,'' D'Antoni said. "There will be nights when we shoot like this and should win by a lot. There will be nights we don't, and that's when you have to grind it out, and we have two of the best finishers in the game. But it's going to be predicated on good defense and if we can do that and get consistent, then we are going to be pretty good.''