Daily Knicks
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11 All-time great New York Knicks opening night performances

By Brandon Simmons

New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Pat Riley
Pat Riley, New York Knicks (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

5. Whole Starting 5 hits double figures in win over Celtics (11.04.1994)

The Knicks started off the 1994-95 season with a bang, going into TD Garden and handily defeating their division rival. In a game where they led the whole way through, all players in the starting five hit double figures.

Charles Oakley, Patrick Ewing, Derek Harper, John Starks, and Charles Smith all scored 15 points or more. It’s rare for the whole starting five to score in double figures. The Knicks sent the message that they were still the team to beat in the Eastern Conference that season.

4. Quentin Richardson, 31 points triple overtime win in Memphis (11.01.2006)

This was a crazy one to start the 2006-07 season. This was the first game for new head coach Isiah Thomas, and it started off well. After losing the first quarter, the Knicks switched the momentum and went up by as many as 19 points going into the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, the Knicks blew the lead that night and had to go into overtime — make that three.

In a game with 10 ties and 10 lead changes, the Knicks prevailed on the road. Quentin Richardson led the game in minutes played logging almost 60 and led both teams in scoring with 31 points, going 5 of 5 from three. He had a total of 10 points through the overtime sessions and made two crucial free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the win. Without Q Rich, the Knicks don’t come out of Memphis with a win.