Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby both helped to Shut Down Portland. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.
The Knicks RIPPED the Portland Trailblazers from start to finish — although they paused in the 2nd quarter a bit — winning 127-97 in a runaway game at Madison Square Garden on a Friday night.
Friday night Knicks.
NY jumped out to a 24-pt lead early in the 2nd quarter, had the lead trimmed to 8 pts before the half, but then resumed their blowout in the 3rd and 4th quarters to win in a romp.
The Knick DEFENSE held another team under 100 pts for the 3rd straight game and 4th time in 5 games.
OG Anunoby did a Job on Portland star forward Deni Avdija, limiting him to 11 pts on 4-14 shooting while scoring 24 pts on 10-16 shooting (4-8 from 3) himself, with a +34. Avdija has been playing with a bad back, suffered a finger injury in the 2nd quarter when his finger got stuck in the net (although he returned to action for the 2nd half), and had an off-the-court encounter with a fan over middle-eastern politics the game before that made the news.
Karl-Anthony Towns ripped down 20 rebounds with 14 pts on 5-12 shooting; Jalen Brunson led NY with 26 pts; Josh Hart scored 20 pts; and Tyler Kolek had another excellent game with 13 pts on 5-7 shooting (3-5 from 3) with 4 assists in 18 minutes — playing backup point for the injured Miles McBride.
Mikal Bridges had 10 pts on 3-10 shooting with a +27 and was named defensive player of the game by Coach Mike Brown. Mitchell Robinson had 7 rebounds in 17 minutes, and Mohammed Diawara had his best game in a while with 10 pts on 4-8 shooting (2-5 from 3) and a +27 in 17 minutes.
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 26 pts on 10-16 shooting (4-8 from 3), while Portland’s bench did most of their other damage — Jerami Grant with 15 pts, Sidy Cissoko with 15 pts on 5-5 shooting (2-2 from 3), and Caleb Love with 12 pts. Jrue Holiday was limited to 5 pts on 2-7 shooting in 22 minutes, Donovan Clingan was limited to 7 pts, and Tourmani Camara had 0 pts.
“Mikal was our defensive player of the game,” said coach Mike Brown afterwards. “It could have easily gone to a couple of other people, but Mikal was very good for us on that end of the floor with his deflections and coming up with 2 50-50 balls on his own.”
NY improves to 30-18, and remains tied for 2nd in the East with Boston, 5.5 behind Detroit. Portland falls to 23-26.
1. Knicks Jump Out to 24-Pt Lead
The Knicks came out with a blazing defense and fast-break attack, outscoring Portland 37-22 in the 1st quarter. They got out to an 8-2 and 10-5 lead before back-to-back Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant 3’s made it a 10-8 game — but NY kept the pressure up for a 10-0 run to go up 22-10.
Jalen Brunson hit a 3 and a drive for 5 straight points, then Josh Hart stole the ball for a bucket the other way.
Josh Hart steal and score 💪 pic.twitter.com/4jHABMnbLI
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 31, 2026
Mohammed Diawara hit a 3 and then Brunson hit a 3-and-1 late in the period for a 32-17 Knick lead.
JALEN BRUNSON FOUR-POINT PLAY pic.twitter.com/zBs07yW9Ty
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 31, 2026
The Knicks pushed the lead to 24 pts at the start of the 2nd quarter, with their Defense leading the way, and Karl-Anthony Towns ripping down every rebound.
A Towns rebound led to a fast break and Tyler Kolek pullup 3 for a 43-22 Knick lead with 9:54 left in the quarter.
Portland pushed back with Sidy Cissoko and Jeremy Grant hitting consecutive 3’s and Cissoko scoring on a slam inside — but a Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound and feed to Brunson for a 3 put NY up 56-38 with 5:41 left.
Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound ➡️ Jalen Brunson three pic.twitter.com/MEPgdUAwBL
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 31, 2026
2. Blazers Pull Back within 8 Before Half
But Portland kept pushing back — Shaedon Sharpe hitting consecutive 3’s to pull them within 13.
Both Donovan Clingan and Deni Avdija suffered hand injuries late in the 2nd quarter. Brunson accidentally whacked Clingan’s hand on a play.
Jalen Brunson hits Donovan Clingan’s left wrist, and Clingan is in pain and subbed out for a treatment (with a replay)#RipCity pic.twitter.com/cSbLQLPzsK
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 31, 2026
Then a few minutes later, Avdija got his finger stuck in the netting.
Deni Avdija gets injured in his left hand at the end of the 1st half and eventually goes to the locker room#RipCity
דני אבדיה נפצע בידו השמאלית ובסופו של דבר הולך לחדר ההלבשה לפני תום המחצית הראשונה.
הוא נראה סובל מהמון כאבים, נקווה שזה לא רציני. pic.twitter.com/sfPaJSwvcq
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 31, 2026
The Knicks went cold and both teams went several minutes without scoring — the game stuck at 56-43 Knicks, until Sharpe scored on a drive and Grant hit a pullup to pull Portland within 8 at 56-48 with 57 seconds left in the period.
3. OG Puts NY Back up 15 to Start 3rd
Jalen Brunson hit a 3 with 9 seconds left in the 2nd quarter to give NY a 10-pt lead at the half, and then OG Anunoby scored on a dunk and then hit a 3 early in the 3rd quarter to put NY back up by 15.
4. Knick DEFENSE Shuts Down Portland in 2nd Half
The Knicks Defense took it from there — stifling Portland throughout the 3rd quarter as NY outscored them 28-20 to take an 18-pt lead.
5. Kolek Orchestrates — and Scores — to Push Knick Lead in 4th
Tyler Kolek came in to start the 4th, and once again pushed the tempo and hit teammates with pinpoint passes for rhythm 3’s. But in this game his shot was falling too. He hit a 3 to start the period, then fed KAT for a 3 and NY was starting to romp.
Kolek hit another 3 a minute later, then fed KAT for a drive. OG then dunked off a KAT assist — the pass of the game — and then hit a 3 off a Kolek assist and NY was up 106-80 with 7:09 left.
the pass. the dunk. 👀 pic.twitter.com/biij0tSoES
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 31, 2026
From there on out it was Rip City.
Diawara ➡️ Hukporti pic.twitter.com/nNRKyy5BCE
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 31, 2026
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810545