Joakim Noah took the microphone before tip-off at the home opener and told the Garden crowd: “It’s a long season. Thanks for the support. Let’s get it.”
The Knicks got it, building an 18-point first-half lead with Noah’s crisp passing spark and holding on for dear life in the fourth quarter by blasting the banged-up Grizzlies with a 12-0 run to post an emphatic 111-104 home-opening victory at the raucous Garden.
It served as successful Garden debuts for Noah and point guard Derrick Rose, who came to life in the second half for 11 of his 13 points with an array of dazzling moves.