The New York Knicks continued their impressive winning streak, showcasing their dominance with a 112-84 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers during Tuesday night’s NBA action, largely led by the standout performance of forward OG Anunoby.
Since Anunoby’s addition to the lineup, the Knicks have remained unbeaten and displayed remarkable dominance, joining the Knicks from Toronto in a December 30 trade. He scored a personal high of 23 points with the team, playing a crucial role in their fifth consecutive victory.
Anunoby’s exceptional performance, especially in the first quarter, where he scored 16 points, helped the Knicks establish a commanding 19-point lead, which eventually ballooned to 39 in the third quarter.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised Anunoby’s contribution, emphasizing his impact on offense and defense and anticipating further improvement as the season progresses.
“He’s made a great contribution, not just with defense, but moving without the ball, getting the ball up the floor fast, his shot-making, and it’s only going to get better as we go,” Thibodeau said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: OG Anunoby, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Anunoby’s performance was so efficient that he nearly matched his season-high of 29 points, a feat he previously achieved at Madison Square Garden as a Raptor.
Julius Randle added to the Knicks’ victory with 20 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, pushing the team to fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Contributions also came from Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride, enhancing the team’s depth.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: OG Anunoby, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Anunoby, who led the NBA in steals last season, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress, acknowledging the synergy and improvements with each game. The Knicks have notably outscored their opponents significantly with Anunoby on the floor.
“I don’t know what I was thinking, but I just know we have a great team and we’re getting better and better each game,” Anunoby said.
Jerami Grant led with 21 points for the Trail Blazers, but it wasn’t enough to counter the Knicks’ fast-paced game, a strategy highlighted by Portland coach Chauncey Billups. Despite Billups’ warnings, the Knicks’ speed and execution caught the Trail Blazers off guard.
“I said, the numbers tell you that they’re like 27th in the league in transition and this and that, whatever. But me watching their last four or five games, I’m telling you my eyes, they are playing fast as heck, they really are,” Billups said. “They’re kicking it up, playing fast, so we’re going to go with my eyes.
“So I can’t say that they caught us off guard because we tried to prepare our team for it. But they do just a really good job of it, to be honest.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: OG Anunoby, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Knicks’ relentless pace continued throughout the game. After Portland narrowed the gap in the second quarter, the Knicks responded fiercely, with Grimes and Jalen Brunson hitting consecutive 3-pointers, contributing to an 11-0 run. By halftime, the Knicks had a commanding 63-41 lead. Randle’s third-quarter performance further solidified the Knicks’ dominance, achieving their largest lead of 94-55.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Knicks are set to visit the Dallas Mavericks, both games scheduled for Thursday.
