A thrilling NBA encounter unfolded on January 11, 2026, as the New York Knicks took on the Portland Trail Blazers, snapping their five-game winning streak with a 123-114 victory. But here's where it gets controversial...
The game featured an exciting back-and-forth battle, with the Knicks' Jalen Brunson leading the charge, scoring 26 points. He was joined by OG Anunoby's 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Mikal Bridges also contributed with 18 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds.
However, the Blazers fought hard, with Deni Avdija putting up an impressive 25 points. Unfortunately, in a worrying moment, Avdija left the game with a back injury, grabbing his back after going for a rebound. The extent of his injury remains unknown, leaving Blazers fans anxious.
The third quarter saw the Knicks leading by 10 points, but the resilient Blazers fought back, tying the game at 92 early in the fourth quarter. Avdija's floater and free throw gave Portland the lead, but the teams continued to trade it back and forth.
In a crucial moment, Miles McBride's pull-up three-pointer put the Knicks ahead 109-104 with just under four minutes left. New York then extended their lead to 117-107, thanks to Brunson's three-pointer, and the Blazers couldn't recover.
The game also marked the return of starting forward Josh Hart for the Knicks, who had been out since injuring his ankle on Christmas Day. Hart finished with 18 points, a welcome boost for the team.
For the Blazers, guard Jrue Holiday made his return after being sidelined since mid-November due to a calf injury. Holiday, who was averaging a career-high 8.3 assists this season, had 8 points in 16 minutes against the Knicks.
The first half was a tight affair, with Hart's 12 points in 14 minutes keeping the Knicks in contention. They began to pull away in the final minutes of the half, with Karl-Anthony Towns' basket giving them a 6-point lead.
In the third quarter, Jalen Brunson's running layup extended the Knicks' lead to 10, but the Blazers refused to give up, chipping away at the deficit and pulling within 2 points early in the fourth.
So, what do you think? Was this an exciting game of cat and mouse, or did the Knicks' experience and depth prove too much for the Blazers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Up Next:
- Knicks: At Sacramento on Wednesday night.
- Trail Blazers: At Golden State on Tuesday night.
Stay tuned for more NBA action and analysis!
