When Langston Galloway knocked down a three from the right wing to give the New York Knicks a 51-50 third-quarter lead over the Memphis Grizzlies, all was looking well for Derek Fisher’s squad.

But just a few possessions later, forward Lou Amundson was whistled for a tough offensive foul. Coach Fish argued the call with the officials, but it was to no avail. The Grizz then ended the third frame on a 16-5 run and cruised to a 103-82 victory at Madison Square Garden.

“I guess the referee thought that Lou intentionally tried to run Conley over,” Derek explained. “We tried to talk to him about it and he was pretty strong in his opinion, and that happens. We were still right there and we had to try to get some subs to keep some guys fresh, but we just kind of ran out of gas and got a little flat at the end of the third quarter, and it was too much separation after that.”

The Knicks were playing their fourth game in five nights and were on the second contest in a back-to-back. They were also playing without four key components. Tim Hardaway Jr. sat with a sprained wrist, Cleanthony Early was out with a sprained ankle and Travis Wear missed time with a sore lower back. Perhaps the biggest absence was guard Alexey Shved, who has been one of New York’s most consistent performers since the All-Star break.

Shane Larkin started in his stead, logging more than 43 minutes on the floor and tallying a game-high seven assists. Meanwhile, Galloway logged 43 minutes as well, and the rookie went for a team-high 19 points, as well as five dimes and seven boards.

Derek was happy with the way that young guard duo played, but he admitted that Shved was certainly missed in the rotation.

“Overall tonight they were pretty good, but we missed that third guy who can do that as a perimeter player tonight,” Fish said of his guards. “(Shane and Langston are) learning a lot every single night, and they’re showing signs that they can be good guards in this league. We just have to all stay positive and keep working with them and helping them to maximize who they can be.”

Galloway was firing rom the start, knocking down the Knicks first field goal for two of his four first-quarter points. Lance Thomas added seven, as he continues to adapt to his starting role, while Jason Smith contributed six off the bench.

However, the Knicks couldn’t stop Marc Gasol on the other end, who tallied 10 points as the Grizz shot 52.2 percent to take a 30-20 lead after one.

New York kept fighting in the second, however. After yielding 18 points in the paint in the first quarter, the Knicks looked to their own star down low, Andrea Bargnani. The Italian seven-footer went 4-of-6 for nine points, and the Knicks held a 16-10 scoring advantage on the interior to cut the Grizzlies lead to two, 50-48, at the break.

“I thought our guys continued to play despite falling down early,” D-Fish said. “They showed some of the grit and mental toughness they’ve shown at times and got the game close at the half.”

Early in the second half, that determination continued to show. Galloway opened the third with a go-ahead three, and after a Tony Allen dunk gave Memphis the lead once again, a Galloway lay-in put New York back on top. After a pair of Memphis answers, it was Thomas to connect from deep to tie it at 56.

Thomas finished with 15 points, while Bargnani turned in 18. Smith led all bench scorers with 16. Galloway was the only other Knick in double figures.

Shortly after Thomas’ triple, the Grizz took the lead back, but while the Knicks were still right in the contest, it didn’t last long. After the offensive foul on Amundson, the veteran, playoff-bound Grizzlies smelled blood and didn’t hesitate to strike.

“To start the third quarter, we were pretty solid,” Coach Fish said. “Then from that point on after the offensive foul, the way we finished the third quarter, due to our own mistakes and some substitutions, we didn’t have enough energy to battle back again.”

The Grizz ripped open a 13-point gap at the end of three. The Knicks kept fighting in the final frame, but they couldn’t get the Memphis lead lower than 11 before a Grizz run midway through the quarter, signaled the end.

NEXT UP

After a day of rest, the Knicks (14-57) will play host to yet another Western Conference contender, the Los Angeles Clippers (46-25).

The Clips took Round 1 between the two teams this season in a 99-78 New Year’s Eve bout at the Staples Center. They’ll ride a four-game win streak into Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will look to even the season series.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

RELATED LINKS

• Fisher on loss to Memphis: Knicks didn’t have enough energy (MSG, March 23, 2015)
• Randolph helps Memphis beat Knicks (AP, March 23, 2015)
• Grizzlies at Knicks: Game Book (NBA, March 23, 2015)
• More pick and roll coming for Knicks? (ESPN NY, March 23, 2015)
• Knicks show hope, then get trounced by mighty Grizzlies (NY Post, March 23, 2015)
• Knicks fall to free-agency target Marc Gasol, Grizzlies (NY Daily News, Mar. 23, 2015)