Tonight, Madison Square Garden threw a Walt “Clyde” Frazier birthday party as the GOAT celebrated his 80th trip around the sun. It would have been a crime for the New York Knicks (47-27) to lose to the Portland Trail Blazers (32-43) and spoil the festivities. It was an imperfect gift, but when the final buzzer buzzed, the home team had gifted Clyde a 110-93 win.
The Knicks played from behind for most of the first quarter but took a 10-point lead in the second. Then ugly play by the Knicks and hot shooting from Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara fueled a 20–3 Portland run that flipped the game by halftime, 58–50. After falling behind by 14 early in the fourth, New York roared back with a 25-point swing, fueled by OG Anunoby’s two-way dominance and a burst of scoring from Mikal Bridges. Hart’s timely steals and the trio’s suffocating defense helped New York build a 15-point cushion late, sealing the win before the reserves closed it out. Final score, 110-93.
Quoth SportsDudee: “Portland shot 25% from 3 for the game. Nice improvement on perimeter defense today.” Agreed—especially in the second half, when New York limited the Blazers to 35 points. Anunoby led the brigade, as usual. He finished with 24 points, five boards, three steals, two blocks and assists, and shot 9-of-14. If you’re keeping track, that’s his sixth game in a row with 20 or more points.
As for the other starters, Mikal Bridges racked up 22 points and six assists on 9-of-19 shooting; Josh Hart logged 10 points and seven assists; and Karl-Anthony Towns made just three shots, finishing with eight points and 10 rebounds. Delon Wright filled in again at PG for NY with a modest five points and two steals in his 28 minutes. Off the bench, Landry Shamet and Precious Achiuwa combined for 21 points; Tyler Kolek dished three dimes and scored no points in his 13 minutes; and Mitchell Robinson played just 14 minutes to mixed results.
For the losers, Deni Avdija recorded 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals; Shaedon Sharpe put up 20; and Toumani Camara logged 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep. Scoot Henderson missed the game due to a concussion.
Happy birthday, Clyde!
First Half
With three point guards still sidelined, Delon Wright drew another start for the Knicks. They kicked things off with an inauspicious start as Karl-Anthony Towns committed a jump ball infraction on the tip. Portland struck first behind Donovan Clingan and Sharpe’s buckets and boards. Bridges and Anunoby scored for New York, but it was a messy stretch for both sides—steals, blocks, and general mediocrity.
Portland’s Camara and Avdija capitalized on New York’s follies, and the latter was especially active. knocking down a three and corraling rebounds. Neither team managed more than two makes from deep, and New York only cracked 42% from the field thanks to a long buzzer-beater swished by Bridges. With that unlikely bucket, the Knicks carried a narrow 27–25 lead into the break.
The Knicks opened the second quarter with fresh legs—Kolek, Anunoby, and Achiuwa all checked in. OG drilled a three, and Precious started cooking inside, finishing a driving layup and then throwing down a dunk to rack up 10 first-half points. In a flash, our heroes were ahead by double digits.
Kolek, assuming the lead guard responsibilities, committed an uncharacteristic turnover, but dished a few dimes and played energetic defense. Love to see it!
Portland refused to go quietly. Sharpe got hot, drilling a midrange jumper and a deep three. Avdija came alive too, burying a pair of triples. Portland shot 2-of-14 from deep, then hit five in a row. What had the makings of a pleasant evening began to take a turn toward the gloomy.
The Knicks had a few careless turnovers and couldn’t contain the Blazers’ wing tandem once they got rolling. Back-to-back threes from Sharpe and Avdija closed the gap, and a 20-3 Portland run restored their lead late in the frame. By halftime, a 58-50 score had the Knicks scratching their heads.
Seven turnovers cost the Knicks 11 points, and although they hit 40% from downtown, they had made just 18-of-42 from the field. Once again, OG led the scoring, racking up 15 points, a steal, and a block in 17 minutes. Landry Shamet gave a solid performance off the bench, scoring five points and a team-high +11. For the villains, Avdija buttered up the statsheet with 22 first-half points on 9-of-15 shooting, and Toumani Camara added 13 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.
Second Half
In the fourth, New York fell behind by 14 before getting their act together. From there, they outscored the Blazers by 15 to inch ahead by a point with a minute to go.
Anunoby was a powerhouse on both ends, scoring 10 in the quarter, plus two steals and a block. His frontcourt mate, Mitchell Robinson, pitched in with three blocks of his own.
The Knicks survived a late scramble—including a blocked three and a weird Trail Blazers offensive rebound as time expired—to take a 79–78 lead into the fourth.
Avdija scored to give Portland a brief lead, but Mitchell Robinson erased a Thybulle floater, Hart grabbed back-to-back steals, and Mikal bounced back strong, scoring seven straight points. New York went up by 11 on a 25-point turnaround.
The Blazers weren’t interested in quitting to get an early start on NYC’s nightlife. Simons and Avdija cut the lead to four by midway through the frame, but Anunoby, Hart, and Bridges went on a tear with more great defense and daggers. New York charged ahead by 15 with a minute remaining, and when the clock hit 36 seconds, the reserves got a chance to dirty their sneakers.
Up Next
Home again for a Tuesday tilt with the Sixers. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
Box Score
Meanwhile, in Minnesota: