The New York Knicks (47-27) rolled through the Portland Trailblazers at the Garden with a final score of 93-110. The Knicks played a strong game against the Trail Blazers shooting 53% as a team, scoring 62 points in the paint, 10 steals and dishing 27 assists. Tom Thibodeau and his Knicks were relentless at home and with good reason as the end of the regualr season looms and playoffs begin. Thibodeau said “once the defesive activity picked up, the intensity picked up, the ball pressure got better, we got some steals, got some blocks, and then we got into the open floor, we got some fast breaks points and got into a good rythm.”
Knicks small Foward OG Anunoby had another imposing performance on Sunday with 28pts, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Anunoby played well on both sides of the floor, causing turnovers and attacking a vulnerable Blazers defense in the post all night. The Knicks forward showed his dominance in the 2nd half of the game but he wasn’t alone in establishing a 14 pt comback over Portland.
Knicks G/Forward Mikal Bridges was no slouch against the Trail Blazers dropping 28 pts, 2 rebounds, 7 assists of his own. Bridges was masterful at the Garden taking advantage of the mid-range game to melt the Trail Blazers as well as his post and 3 point game to keep Portland’s defense on their toes. Anunoby and Bridges were unstoppable together and its obvious after combining for 56 pts, the Knicks team chemistry, ball movement, and defensive coordination on the floor is elite.
The Knicks are a tough group to intimidate or bully on the court with players like Guard Josh Hart who plays basketball as if he were 7 ft tall with the swiftness of James Bond. Hart had himself a solid night with 14 pts, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals at MSG. Hart is a warrior on the floor, he can score the ball at high level and also make it difficult for opponents on defense. Hart is 1 of 2 players in the NBA this season with 600+ rebounds and 800+ assists, the other is MVP center and NBA Champion Nuggets C Nikola Jokic. Hart leaves it all on the floor each night for the Knicks channeling a Dennis Rodman-esque form under the basket as his presence on the team is essential since playoffs begin soon.
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