Knicks hang on in triple overtime

MEMPHIS — The New York Knicks built a 19-point lead over the Memphis Grizzlies, blew it, then needed three overtimes to finish them off.

Is this the kind of “evident progress” Knicks owner James Dolan had in mind?

Quentin Richardson made two free throws with 12 seconds left in the third overtime as the Knicks outlasted the Grizzlies, 118-117, Wednesday night in their season opener.

After the overpriced group that Isiah Thomas spent three years putting together went 23-59 last season, Dolan ordered his team president to take over as coach, with a caveat: Show “evident progress,” or lose both jobs.

Thomas seemed on his way to an easy win in his debut before the Knicks fell apart in the fourth.

“There was some crazy stuff happening, and at any point in time, you could have just said, ‘Oh well, we played well and just kind of caved,’ ” Thomas said. “But our guys kept fighting and grinding, and we won the basketball game.”

Richardson led the Knicks with 31 points and Jamal Crawford had 21. Stephon Marbury had 19 and Eddy Curry had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Richardson had 10 points in the overtimes, and Marbury had seven before fouling out.

Chucky Atkins scored 10 of his 25 points in overtime for the Grizzlies. Memphis got 22 points and 12 rebounds from Hakim Warrick and 21 points from rookie Rudy Gray. Mike Miller had 18 points.

With the Knicks ahead, 108-106, Atkins sent the game into the third overtime with a layup with 28 seconds left.