Game ID: 22300960
New York Knicks @ Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
POR 25 16 27 25 93NYK 26 29 30 20 105
NYK @ POR ScoutingNYK @ POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
POR availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 24 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Henderson missed 7 since 2/23, out tonight
OUT Camara missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 30 min (122% of 25)
OUT Badji missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 14 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 3/01 after 10, 14 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 3/04 after 3, 10 min since (86% of 11)
NEW Murray 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 18 to 26 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/09 · back-to-backOUT Sharpe missed 25 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 5 since 3/01, returns tonight: 40 min (123% of 32)
OUT Henderson missed 8 since 2/23, returns tonight: 26 min (92% of 28)
OUT Badji missed 4 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 15 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Camara back 3/08 after 2, 30 min since (122% of 25)
BACK Rupert back 3/01 after 10, 16 min since (97% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 3/04 after 3, 6 min since (49% of 11)
NEW Murray 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 18 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Hagans 17 to 22 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 36 min (105% of 34)
OUT Sharpe missed 26 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 16 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 3/09 after 5, 40 min since (123% of 32)
BACK Henderson back 3/09 after 8, 26 min since (92% of 28)
BACK Camara back 3/08 after 2, 31 min since (125% of 25)
BACK Minaya back 3/04 after 3, 6 min since (49% of 11)
NEW Simons 34 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Murray 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 18 to 28 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 27 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Hagans missed 2 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 2 since 3/09, returns tonight: 15 min (132% of 11)
OUT Badji missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 17 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/11 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 3/09 after 5, 36 min since (112% of 32)
BACK Henderson back 3/09 after 8, 30 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Camara back 3/08 after 2, 29 min since (117% of 25)
NEW Murray 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 18 to 26 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backOUT Sharpe missed 28 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Hagans missed 3 since 3/09, returns tonight: 22 min (133% of 17)
OUT Badji missed 7 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 18 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/11 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 3/09 after 5, 38 min since (117% of 32)
BACK Henderson back 3/09 after 8, 26 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Camara back 3/08 after 2, 29 min since (118% of 25)
BACK Minaya back 3/13 after 2, 15 min since (132% of 11)
NEW Murray 22 to 27 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 29 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 5 since 3/08, returns tonight: 17 min (72% of 24)
OUT Rupert missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 12 min (72% of 16)
OUT Badji missed 8 since 3/02, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 10)
OUT Moore missed 19 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/11 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 3/09 after 5, 38 min since (118% of 32)
BACK Henderson back 3/09 after 8, 26 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Camara back 3/08 after 2, 30 min since (122% of 25)
BACK Hagans back 3/14 after 3, 22 min since (133% of 17)
BACK Minaya back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (124% of 11)
NEW Murray 22 to 29 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 30 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 20 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/11 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 3/09 after 5, 38 min since (118% of 32)
BACK Henderson back 3/09 after 8, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK Walker back 3/16 after 5, 17 min since (72% of 24)
BACK Hagans back 3/14 after 3, 22 min since (133% of 17)
BACK Rupert back 3/16 after 2, 12 min since (72% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 3/13 after 2, 10 min since (88% of 11)
BACK Badji back 3/16 after 8, 2 min since (17% of 10)
NEW Camara 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Murray 22 to 27 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 31 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Hagans missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 21 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/11 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Walker back 3/16 after 5, 25 min since (107% of 24)
BACK Rupert back 3/16 after 2, 8 min since (47% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 3/13 after 2, 10 min since (88% of 11)
BACK Badji back 3/16 after 8, 2 min since (17% of 10)
NEW Ayton 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Murray 22 to 28 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 32 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Hagans missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 22 since 1/31, out tonight
BACK Walker back 3/16 after 5, 24 min since (104% of 24)
BACK Rupert back 3/16 after 2, 12 min since (72% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 3/13 after 2, 9 min since (81% of 11)
NEW Murray 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 15 since 1/29, not on tonight's roster
OUT Anunoby missed 15 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 40 since 12/11, out tonight
NEW Hart 35 to 43 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/08 · 2 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 16 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 41 since 12/11, out tonight
NEW Hart 35 to 44 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 18 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 17 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 42 since 12/11, out tonight
NEW Hart 35 to 44 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 25 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 18 since 1/29, returns tonight: 29 min (82% of 35)
OUT Robinson missed 43 since 12/11, out tonight
NEW Hart 35 to 44 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 44 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 29 min since (82% of 35)
NEW Hart 35 to 43 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 45 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 32 min since (92% of 35)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 20 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 46 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 3/14, returns tonight: 5 min (39% of 12)
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 33 min since (92% of 35)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Robinson missed 47 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 33 min since (92% of 35)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 5 min since (39% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 48 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (54% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 29 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ayton at 28 and Simons at 26 a game. Without Sharpe (28 straight), Walker (4 straight), Hagans (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 89, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 12 free throws a game; DiVincenzo at 18 and Brunson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Robinson (44 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 89 a night to Portland's 118 and the line, where Portland takes 20 free throws a game to New York's 12. Call it New York 110, Portland 105.
3/08 vs HOU 107-123 — POR notes
POR lost 107-123. POR shot 42% (37 of 89) to HOU's 48%, 16 of 35 from three. POR turned it over 17 times to HOU's 7, and HOU turned those into 12 steals. Banton led with 30 (10 of 27, 4 of 10 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Simons added 23, Reath 16. Q2 was theirs, 32-27, but the other 3 periods went 96-75 against them. They led by as many as 12. Thybulle's -22 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 vs TOR 128-118 — POR notes
POR won 128-118 in 1 overtime. POR shot 48% (49 of 103) to TOR's 47%, 16 of 40 from three. POR turned it over 14 times to TOR's 20. Ayton led with 30 (14 of 25); Banton added 25, Simons 23. The hinge was Q1, 33-16: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Banton was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/11 vs BOS 99-121 — POR notes
POR lost 99-121. POR shot 45% (39 of 87) to BOS's 49%, 10 of 28 from three. POR turned it over 11 times to BOS's 3. Ayton led with 22 (11 of 19); Simons added 17, Grant 14. Q3 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 14 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 99-76 against them. Henderson's -23 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 vs ATL 106-102 — POR notes
POR won 106-102. POR shot 46% (38 of 82) to ATL's 43%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 24 times to ATL's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 49-38 for them. Simons led with 36 (10 of 23, 5 of 13 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Ayton added 33, Banton 12. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: POR came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 7. POR trailed 47-52 at the half and won the second half 59-50. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/14 vs NYK 93-105 — POR notes
POR lost 93-105. POR shot 40% (34 of 84) to NYK's 44%, 11 of 33 from three, and got to the line 16 times to NYK's 26. POR turned it over 17 times to NYK's 12, and NYK turned those into 11 steals. Ayton led with 31 (12 of 21, 6 of 6 at the line); Banton added 16, Henderson 12. Q4 was theirs, 25-20, the deficit cut from 17 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 85-68 against them. Banton's -20 in 42 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Daniels (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ayton at 29 and Simons at 25 a game. Without Sharpe (29 straight), Walker (5 straight), Rupert (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 103 a night to Portland's 114 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it New Orleans 115, Portland 107.
3/18 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and Vučević at 19 a game. Without White (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Ayton at 27 and Simons at 25 a game. Without Sharpe (30 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the line, where Chicago takes 24 free throws a game to Portland's 16 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to Chicago's 13. Call it Chicago 115, Portland 110.
3/20 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Simons at 27 and Ayton at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sharpe (31 straight), Hagans (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 21 a game. Without Westbrook (9 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 112, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
3/22 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Simons at 26 and Ayton at 23 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Sharpe (32 straight), Hagans (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Powell (2 straight), Westbrook (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 13 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-0 a night and the Clippers minus-4. Call it the Clippers 111, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.
3/05 vs ATL 100-116 — NYK notes
NYK lost 100-116. NYK took 12 more shots (99 to 87), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to ATL's 51%, 16 of 52 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 18 fouls committed. The glass went 40-51 against them. DiVincenzo led with 21 (7 of 24, 5 of 17 from three); B. Bogdanović added 19, Achiuwa 15. Q2 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 18 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 88-65 against them. Hart's -26 in 43 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 vs ORL 98-74 — NYK notes
NYK won 98-74. NYK shot 48% (38 of 79) to ORL's 34%, 16 of 33 from three, and got to the line 8 times to ORL's 20. Brunson led with 26 (11 of 19, 4 of 7 from three); Hart added 19, Achiuwa 15. The hinge was Q3, 25-15: a lead of 16 became 26. Achiuwa was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/10 vs PHI 73-79 — NYK notes
NYK lost 73-79. NYK shot 32% (26 of 80) to PHI's 39%, 9 of 40 from three. NYK turned it over 19 times to PHI's 13, and PHI turned those into 9 steals. Brunson led with 19 (6 of 22, 1 of 9 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); DiVincenzo added 15, Bogdanović 10. Q4 was theirs, 17-16, the deficit cut from 7 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 63-56 against them. Sims's -18 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/12 vs PHI 106-79 — NYK notes
NYK won 106-79. NYK shot 51% (40 of 79) to PHI's 38%, 14 of 40 from three. The glass went 51-31 for them. Hart led with 20 (8 of 16, 1 of 6 from three); Brunson added 20, DiVincenzo 16. The hinge was Q1, 26-14: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 33. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/14 @ POR 105-93 — NYK notes
NYK won 105-93. NYK shot 44% (38 of 87) to POR's 40%, 6 of 29 from three, and went to the line 26 times to POR's 16 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. NYK turned it over 12 times to POR's 17. Brunson led with 45 (14 of 30, 2 of 10 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); DiVincenzo added 12, Anunoby 12. The hinge was Q2, 29-16: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/16 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 88, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and DiVincenzo at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Robinson (45 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 88 a night to Sacramento's 112 and the arc, Sacramento at 37 percent from three to New York's 31. Call it Sacramento 111, New York 108, New York keeping it close.
3/18 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Kuminga at 23 and Thompson at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 83, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and DiVincenzo at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Robinson (46 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 83 a night to Golden State's 117 and the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Golden State minus-0. Call it New York 109, Golden State 107, Golden State keeping it close.
3/21 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Porter Jr. at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 91, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Robinson (47 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-3 and the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to New York's 29. Call it Denver 108, New York 106, New York keeping it close.
3/23 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 98, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and DiVincenzo at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (2 straight), Robinson (48 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Thomas at 24 and Bridges at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to Brooklyn's 115 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Brooklyn minus-1. Call it New York 113, Brooklyn 104.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PORAH A. Hagans
DA D. Ayton
DB D. Banton
DR D. Reath
JM J. Minaya
KM K. Murray
MT M. Thybulle
SH S. Henderson
TC T. Camara
NYKAB A. Burks
BB B. Bogdanović
BO Bogdanovic
DD D. DiVincenzo
IH I. Hartenstein
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
POR/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Brunson scores 45 points and the Knicks roll past the Trail Blazers, 105-93
PORTLAND, Ore. -- — Jalen Brunson scored 45 points and the New York Knicks rolled past the Portland Trail Blazers , 105-93 on Thursday night.
Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby had 12 points apiece for the Knicks, who have won four of their last six as they jockey for playoff position in the Eastern Conference with 16 games left in the season.
Brunson had his sixth game with 40 or more points this season.
“What can you say, it’s unbelievable just to watch it, and you know he ended up with 17 free throws and I thought there could be a lot more,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s just clever, he’s shifty and he does everything.”
Deandre Ayton had 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Blazers, playing the second of a back-to-back and the last of a six-game homestand. Portland beat the Atlanta Hawks 106-102 on Wednesday night.
The Knicks led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter. Portland got within 98-87 on a long jumper from Ayton with 3:54 left but the comeback bid stalled.
Brunson made 15 of his 17 free throws. The All-Star did a bit of everything, finishing with four assists, a steal and a block.
“I've just got to keep my mentality and my mind straight, and that's the one thing I can control,” Brunson said.
Anfernee Simons , who led Portland with 36 points against the Hawks, was sidelined Thursday. Coach Chauncey Billups said Simons' knee had bothered him for a while and after he played more than 40 minutes against the Hawks, the decision was made to keep him out.
Jerami Grant missed his second straight game for the Blazers because of a nagging right hamstring strain.
Anunoby played in his second straight game after returning from right elbow surgery on Tuesday for a 106-79 victory at home against Philadelphia. There was a scare when Anunoby grabbed his elbow during the first half and was later seen icing it on the bench. He returned to start the second half.
Before the game, Thibodeau offered condolences to the family of former Knicks player RJ Barrett for the death of younger brother Nathan. Barrett's current team, the Toronto Raptors , announced Nathan's death in a statement. Details were not known.
The Knicks had a 26-25 edge after the first quarter, then pulled away in the second on a 15-2 run capped by Isaiah Hartenstein 's jumper that made it 44-33. The Knicks outscored the Blazers 29-16 in the second quarter.
New York went into the break ahead 55-41, led by Brunson with 21 points. When Brunson went to the line for free throws, some in the significant crowd of Knicks fans at the Moda Center shouted "MVP!"
The Knicks pushed the lead to as many as 20 points in the third quarter and went into the final period up 85-68.
“I thought we did a good job in the first quarter in matching their physicality, knowing how we were going to play. Thought we just had a good quarter," Billups said. "Then we had a tough second quarter, couldn't make a shot. Turnovers really hurt us."
Ayton finished with his seventh straight double-double.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Trail Blazers: Visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.