----- Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 45 points as the New York Knicks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 105-93 Thursday night at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Short-handed Trail Blazers struggle against Knicks!
Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 45 points as the New York Knicks topped the Portland Trail Blazers 105-93 Thursday night at Moda Center in Portland. Brunson's 45 points is the most an opponent has scored against the Trail Blazers this season.
Portland (19-47) played without Anfernee Simons (knee tendonitis) and Jerami Grant (sore hamstring). As a result, Kris Murray, Dalano Banton, and Toumani Camara joined Scoot Henderson and Deandre Ayton in the starting lineup.
Ayton continued his terrific play with a double-double 31 points and 14 rebounds.
The Trail Blazers used a 17-3 run to build a 25-18 lead in the first quarter, but the Knicks scored the final eight-points of the period to take a 26-25 lead at the end of one.
New York used an 18-8 run at the start of the second quarter to build an 11-point lead. Portland cut the deficit to 46-39, but the Knicks closed the half on a 9-2 run taking a 55-41 lead into the locker room.
Portland never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers travel to New Orleans to meet the Pelicans on Saturday at Smoothie King Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Deandre Ayton was superb, but the offense struggled without Simons and Grant.