There was a lot of tension in the air during the first half at Madison Square Garden, as the shorthanded Knicks, without Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and Cameron Payne, trailed by double digits against the PortlandTrail Blazers.**** The Blazers are looking to make a push for the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference.
Although Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned he's not a “big half-time speech guy,” New York came out swinging in the second half. With strong performances from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, who each scored 28 points, the Knicks cruised to a 110-93 victory over the Blazers.
OG stays cookin 😤 pic.twitter.com/Jbxl6nwNyv
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 31, 2025
Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 24 points, while Landry Shamet provided a spark off the bench alongside Precious Achiuwa, recording 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Delon Wright had to step up in the absence of guards Brunson, McBride, and Payne, and he rose to the occasion. He recorded seven points, four rebounds, and two assists as a starter for the Knicks in 35 minutes of action.
'Thibs' on the team's depth
“I think overall the physicality is a lot better,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “And guys understand what we’re trying to do... OG and Mikal are playing at a very, very high level. And Josh did all the things he normally does.”
Wright was strong on defense — “that’s his gift,” Thibodeau added.
Positivity for Portland
For the Blazers, the good news is that Deni Avdija is looking more and more comfortable out there and could potentially become an All-Star in the next couple of seasons. He has legitimately become the cornerstone for the franchise and proved it against New York, recording 33 points along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 41 minutes of action.
Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons combined for 38 points, but the Blazers’ lack of depth couldn’t match the Knicks’ firepower.
As the regular season nears its end, New York will aim to stay healthy and secure home-court advantage at least for the first round of the playoffs. On the flip side, there's still plenty of learning to do for the Trail Blazers. While they've caught a hot streak recently, it’s not looking good for them in the race for the 10th and final Play-In spot.