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[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs. Trail Blazers, January 30, 2026

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. | Getty Images

Cue the Robert Randolph. Tonight New York (29*-18) will host the Portland Trail Blazers (23-25) at Madison Square Garden in their second and final meeting of the season. And this time the vibes are good. Friday night Knicks! Wee wheedle wheedle wheedle wheedle wump!

Just last week the sky was falling in New York. They had suffered two four-game losing [Ed.—Thx, MR45] streaks over the course of eleven games, making your favorite ball club and mine look less like world-beating potential champions and more like uncomfortable bedfellows. But after a 300-point defeat of the Nets, a stand-tall win against Philly, a tougher-than-it-shoulda-been game against the Kings, and a Clark-Kent-became-Superman-at-halftime victory over the Raptors on Wednesday, the vibes have indeed improved.

Portland is trying to snap a three-game losing streak. They score 115.5 points per game (18th in the league), allow 117.4 points per game (22nd in the league), and make 14 triples per game (11th in the league). They also attempt 41.6 three-pointers a night, which puts them at a league-worst 33.7%.

When last they met on January 11, the Knicks showed their resilience in a 123-114 road victory that snapped the Blazers’ five-game win streak. Jalen Brunson led the way with 26 points, OG Anunoby chipped in 24 points, Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 20-11 double-double, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points with six assists and six rebounds. The game was too tight for comfort through three quarters before New York pulled away in the fourth, when Miles McBride drained a crucial three-pointer late to finally start inflating the lead. The hosts got a strong effort from Deni Avdija with 25 points, but he exited the game with a second-half back injury.

During their four-game winning streak, the Knicks have been on a tear, leading the league in net rating at plus-25.6. Surely beating Brooklyn by 500 points helped that number. Even more encouragings is that over that span, they have also held opponents to roughly 87 points per game. It certainly does seem that the team and coach Mike Brown identified devensive improvements as their surest path out of the doldrums.

And the offense has improved over this winning stretch, too. Brunson continues to set the tone, averaging 27.6 points and six assists while ranking eighth in the NBA in scoring. In New York’s 119–92 statement win in Toronto, Mikal Bridges poured in 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting, including 19 in a decisive third quarter. In the postgame interview, he cited a personal commitment to being more coachable and less entitled. Good Lord, how often have you heard an athlete of any sport speak humility so bluntly? He has been a steady catalyst throughout the streak.

Avdija has emerged as Portland’s engine, averaging 25.8 points per game (13th in the NBA) to go with 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists. His breakout year earned him Western Conference Player of the Week honors in Week 11, when he posted 26.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. Rookie center Donovan Clingan anchors the glass, leading the Trail Blazers with 11.2 rebounds per night, second-best in the league, behind only KAT. Shaedon Sharpe remains a steady scoring threat and is coming off a 31-point outing, while Toumani Camara provides floor spacing, pacing the team with 2.6 made threes per game.

Portland’s been fighting the injury bug all year. Basketball-Reference lists eight players on their injury report. Avdija (back) and Robert Williams III (knee) are game time decisions. Across the aisle, Josh Hart and Miles McBride are both game time decisions with bad ankles—although, Hart played on that sore ankle on Wednesday and finished with almost two dozen points in thirty-some minutes. NOTE: Mitchell Robinson is not listed on the injury report after sitting out the Raptors game.

Prediction​

ESPN.com likes New York, giving them a 75% chance. We like that, too. After a few up and down quarters, the Knicks will pull ahead for good in the fourth and win by 10.

Game Details​

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...eview-knicks-vs-trail-blazers-january-30-2026

 

[JJ]

OH MAN finally some good vibes around this team again!! Four straight dubs and the defense is actually showing up?? I was starting to lose my mind watching them give up 120+ every other night.

Gotta say though, as much as I love the Knicks finally getting their act together, the real story here is Mikal Bridges coming out and saying he wasn't being "coachable enough" and felt "too entitled." Like WHAT?! When was the last time you heard an NBA player just straight up admit that?? That's the kind of accountability that wins championships, not this "I'm built different" nonsense you hear from most guys.

And can we talk about OG with 6 steals and 7 deflections against Toronto?? That man was EVERYWHERE. Mike Brown called those numbers "unheard of" and he ain't wrong. When OG is locked in defensively like that, this team transforms into something scary.

The lineup debate is interesting but honestly I think the answer changes depending on matchups. Mitch gives you that rim protection and those INSANE offensive boards (37% OREB rate is disgusting in a good way), but Deuce with the starters gives you that 5-out spacing Brown wants. Hart's shooting turnaround has been huge though - 40% from deep on 4+ attempts is legit.

Portland tonight should be a W. Avdija's been balling but they're shooting 33.7% from three as a team?? That's BRUTAL. Keep the streak going boys!!

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 127, Trail Blazers 97: “Grooving”

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks bows his head before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 30, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

My mind’s been mush all week. There’s a bug going around the family that finally found me. My ADHD is turned up to 11. I’m absolutely burnt. The harder I try, the worse it gets, like your car’s stuck in the snow and you keep hitting the gas, going nowhere as the rut deepens. I’m behind on work. Focus is difficult, so I step away, do something, anything else, to change my focus, break free from the rut. But doing something, anything else triggers the cortisol chorus of guilt: “Shouldn’t you be working?”

Breaking the cycle means starting small: break the work into smaller pieces. In last night’s 127-97 Knick win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Mikal Bridges only made three baskets. But one of them reminded us — and two Blazers in particular — of the multiplying power of one small step.

In the final minute of the third quarter, the Blazers were down 16, a swing spot, score-wise; give up a 3 and you’re down 19 and getting blown out; make a 3, you’re down 13, just a mini-run from a competitive game. After Bridges missed a corner 3, Shaeden Sharpe rebounded near the foul line, passed to Jerami Grant and got the ball back as he crossed midcourt. 48 seconds in the quarter, 18 on the shot clock. Perfect time to run a little clock and get a quality two-for-one. Entering the fourth down 12 or 13 instead of 16 is big psychologically. The Blazers ended the frame down 18.

Sharpe took two dribbles, went around a Donovan Clingan pick, then the career 33% shooter from deep launched from there with 16 on the shot clock and of his teammates behind the arc, while every Knick besides Jalen Brunson, Sharpe’s defender, was either in the paint or the midrange. Sharpe missed, the Knicks rebounded and while Bridges missed a 3 on the other end, he took it with 30 seconds left, leaving just enough time for a New York two-for-one.

With 16 seconds left and Caleb Love dribbling the time down near center court, Sharpe, guarded by Bridges, went to the corner nearest celebrity row, hunched forward and rested his hands on his knees. He held that pose while Love, smothered by Landry Shamet, struggled to get free. He held it while Love lobbed a no-chance 30-footer (with eight seconds left in the quarter and five on the shot clock). He held it even after the shot missed.

To be fair, no Blazer besides Clingan came inside the arc to crash the offensive glass. Maybe their emphasis was getting back in transition if the Knicks made one last push. Spoiler: they didn’t.

As Love’s shot went up, Bridges rotated 90 degrees, from facing Love at the top of the key to facing Sharpe in the corner, to box him out. As soon as Bridges saw Sharpe doing his still-life schtick, his head whipped around to follow the play, rotating his body back to facing midcourt instead of the sideline. Once Bridges realized Diawara had the uncontested rebound, he took off, launching off a slight spring in his step. The flat-footed Sharpe didn’t flinch until Diawara was passing to Brunson, who got the ball with four seconds left.

Brunson took two dribbles, during which time the non-Sharpe Blazers all turned their attention on him, meaning the only Blazer aware of Bridges was the cornerback who’d just been beaten by the receiver. Sharpe got the attention of Sidy Cissoko, normally a good idea. Cissoko is 21 and has a 6-foot-10 wingspan. But Cissoko, like Sharpe, picked a bad time to disassociate.

When Diawara got the rebound, Cissoko was at the 3-point line. When Cissoko first realized Bridges was streaking by, he was at the other 3-point line. For the two seconds in-between, he showed all the hustle of late-stage Barry Bonds after drawing a walk, lollygagging with some extra L’s and G’s thrown in. So it didn’t matter how hard he ran once he recognized Bridges was a threat, the centimeters away he was from deflecting Brunson’s pass. By not taking that first small step toward their larger goal, Sharpe and Cissoko could never get caught up.

By the way, I’m not down at all on Sharpe or Cissoko for these lapses. If there’d been a camera on me at work when I was their age, you couldn’t seen my first day at Wal-Mart, when the lawn and garden manager going on break gave me their medieval dungeon master-sized set of keys and I promptly clipped it around my eyebrow ring, never considering the strength-to-weight ratio of an eyebrow ring versus 10 literal pounds of keys. Reader, it hurt.

Five wins in a row has the Knicks, per sprewellhasmouthstofeed, “grooving.” Next game’s in seven hours, when the Lakers make their annual pilgramage to the Mecca. If you’re struggling with something, do something small. Do small things consistently. Most snow, eventually, melts.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...es/78680/knicks-127-trail-blazers-97-grooving

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Week Preview: Feb. 1-7, 2026

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 29, 2025 in New York City. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s trade week at last. By the end of Thursday, there could be a new Knick or two on the roster, and we might be bidding adieu to those who were dealt. Or maybe Leon Rose does nothing, that enigmatic minx. These are the Days of Our NBA. If you’ve been eating a gyro for lunch everyday, hoping it will influence the Greek gods to tilt a certain trade in your favor, this week will prove whether you have cosmic powers. Keep it up, you wizard! Extra tzatziki!

After a rough start to the calendar year, the Knicks are rolling now at 30*-18, locked into the second spot in the East, and trailing Detroit by 5.5 games. They saunter into the week with a five-game win streak that saw vast improvements on the defensive end. Now comes a gnarly four-game week that will test where the team stands and their commitment to the gritty fundamentals.

Sunday, February 1 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7:00 PM, NBC/Peacock)​

LeBron and Luka come to the Garden with the Lakers riding hot at 29-18. This one’s got juice—national TV, playoff vibes, evenly matched teams. The Lakers are a respectable road team, but the Knicks play like a different animal at MSG. If New York can push the pace and keep LA’s stars from gaining control in crunch time, victory should be theirs for the taking. Watch out for LeBron, though; if this is his final game played at MSG (presuming retirement is imminent), he will aim for big numbers as a parting gift.

Watch this one on NBA and Peacock.

Tuesday, February 3 @ Washington Wizards (7:00 PM, MSG)​

The Knicks head to DC to face a Wizards team that’s been brutal all year. This is the kind of game good teams should handle without breaking a sweat. These are also the dog days of the schedule, when the occasional sleepwalk is to be expected. When they last played, in early November, New York defeated Washington, 119-102. Once again, Brunson and Towns should eat against the ‘Zards. They would be wise to lock this one down early and get some rest, giving the bench some burn before the next night’s more challenging matchup.

Watch it on MSG.

Wednesday, February 4 vs. Denver Nuggets (7:00 PM, MSG)​

Back home for what should be a helluva second game of as back-to-back. Jokić coming to town means Towns has his hands full, and Denver’s offense is always a problem, ranking first in the league. But the Knicks are tough to beat at the Garden, and if they can hit their threes and make Jokić work on defense, they’ve got a shot. The clubs haven’t met since January of last year, when the Knicks won 122–112 at MSG. Jalen Brunson powered New York with 30 points and 15 assists as the Knicks led wire to wire, totally overshadowing Nikola Jokic’s 33-point effort.

Possible Finals preview? Could be….

Watch it on MSG.

Friday, February 6 @ Detroit Pistons (7:30 PM, Prime Video)​

You thought Wednesday’s tilt was tough. The week ends in Detroit against the team everybody’s chasing. The Pistons are young, fast, and sitting pretty at the top of the East. For the Knicks, this is a statement game. They lost to Detroit, 121-90, on January 5, despite 25 points from Jalen Brunson and because they couldn’t score more than 36 points after halftime.

Win this one and New York will further prove they can hang with the best. Lose and they may start lamenting their trade deadline activity / inactivity.

Tune in on Amazon Prime Video.

Enjoy your week, fans. Be kind to your fellow humans. And Go Knicks.

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-game-previews/78687/knicks-week-preview-feb-1-7-2026

 

[Zedster]

That 30-point blowout against Portland was nice to watch. Five in a row feels good after what we went through earlier this month.

The defensive turnaround has been the real story here. Going from 29th in defensive rating to 1st over the last stretch of games is pretty remarkable, even accounting for the weaker competition. The Shamet-for-Clarkson swap in the rotation seems like such a small move on paper, but the bench unit just looks more cohesive defensively now.

This week is going to tell us a lot though. Lakers, Nuggets, and Pistons in a seven-day span is no joke. The Washington game should be a breather, but that back-to-back with Denver the next night is concerning. Jokic against KAT is always a fascinating matchup - Towns has the athleticism edge but Nikola just does things that don't make sense. Last year's win was encouraging but Denver's been playing well lately.

The Detroit game Friday feels like the real measuring stick. That January loss was rough - 36 points in the second half is the kind of collapse we were seeing too often. If the defensive improvements are real and sustainable, this is where we'll find out.

Curious to see what Leon does at the deadline too. The team seems to be finding its identity again, so I'd lean toward not disrupting the chemistry unless something significant comes along. But what do I know - that's why he gets paid the big bucks.

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs Lakers, February 1, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball defended by Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Knicks (30*-18) welcome the Lakers (29-18) to Madison Square Garden with the building buzzing again. New York has won five straight games (four by double digits) thanks to a top-10 defense, world-class rebounding, and an explosive offense. The team that was a reeking garbage pile just a couple of weeks ago smells fresh as daisies again. Ain’t winning the best antiseptic?

Los Angeles brings star power and a strong road record, though the distance between their offensive and defensive ratings is approximately the distance from Crypto.com Arena to MSG. When Luka Dončić has one of the rotation’s best defensive ratings, of course they’re ranked 26th. Sure, the Lakers’ off-court Buss family drama makes the Clippers seem like a well-behaved organization by comparison; and yes, players like Deandre Ayton sometimes make coach JJ Redick reconsider his life choices; but these Lakers have enough talent to sit squarely in the playoff hunt and pose a big challenge for our heroes tonight.

Remembering the last time these teams played still makes my right eye twitch. On March 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, the Knicks led for long stretches behind a big Brunson night before overtime arrived on flatulence fumes and the Lakers stole a 113-109 win. I recall seething at Bridges for taking six shots in 43 minutes and KAT for shooting 23%. Good thing we haven’t had those miseries this season.

The story of the Lakers’ year is one of extremes. The offense hums at a top-10 level, shooting the best field goal percentage in the league and taking steady trips to the line. Yet all those gains are offset by a defense that lags near the bottom of the barrel, barely rebounds, and hardly blocks. It takes a special kind of alchemy to achieve a perfect zero net rating, but they’ve done it!

Everything runs through Luka, one of the league’s best swishers and dishers. His fellow superstar LeBron James, playing his 120th season, is still a force to be reckoned with, too, thanks to excellent conditioning and a daily diet of virginal blood.

In an internal P&T poll of one, Deandre Ayton was voted player most likely to be intentionally left behind after a road game. Still, he’s averaging 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per night; just imagine what he could do awake.

Austin Reaves is a very fine player, but has been sidelined with a calf injury since Christmas. He’s on today’s report as day-to-day. Look for Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart to round out the starters, and beware the latter especially. Smart is one of those cats who will shoot 25% from downtown for the season and turn into Steph Curry when he sees an orange and blue jersey.

Miles McBride (ankle) is day-to-day for New York.

Prediction​

ESPN.com thinks New York has a 68% chance tonight. Maybe. Take into account that, against the Knicks, Luka has averaged 30.5 PPG in 12 career games, and LeBron has averaged 26.7 PPG in 61. Not only should you expect 60 points between them tonight, but watch James go totally bananas because a) it is potentially his last game at the Garden, and b) it will be nationally televised. New York will give you your money’s worth, fighting late into the game, but this has the weird feel of LeBron’s Swan Song to NYC. Call me cynical, but it might come down to whether you see Scott Foster on the officiating crew today. If you do, trust that the league wants this one for Bron; if you don’t, Knicks by three.

Game Details​

Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
Time: 7 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV: NBC / Peacock
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...game-preview-knicks-vs-lakers-february-1-2026

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 112, Lakers 100: Scenes from a second half turnaround

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks scrambles for the ball against Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden on February 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks (31*-18) shook off a middling first half, outscored the Lakers 60–44 after halftime, and survived 15 lead changes to claim their sixth straight win, 112–100.

From the jump, L.A. attacked home plate and New York tried their luck from the outfield. The strategy showed promise with the first two longballs swished. When the shots stopped falling—and the visitors continued to find easy scoring opportunities—the home team slipped on the scoreboard.

Congratulations go out to Karl-Anthony Towns, selected today for his sixth All-Star Game. The Big Begonia pounded the glass early, but two quick fouls curtailed his quarter. The good news: KAT committed just one more foul in the game and would finish with an 11-13 double-double, four assists, two steals, and a team-high +23 in his 32 minutes. Great effort from him overall tonight.

Meanwhile, the Lakers embraced simplicity, benefiting from basic actions like alley-oops to Deandre Ayton. For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges grabbed a steal (good) but missed four of his first five shots (less good). Their offense flowed mostly through Jalen Brunson (12 points, 13 dimes, seven boards) and OG Anunoby, who scored 11 of his 25 total points in the first period.

WINGSTOP: Mikal’s ball pressure creates an open three for OG pic.twitter.com/x6Yk9QSpSL

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) February 2, 2026

After an uneven start, Luka Dončić gained steam and finished the night with 30 points, 15 boards, and eight assists. Under his leadership, his team dished and swished, assisting on 21 of their 38 made field goals tonight. They closed Q1 ahead, 33-27, while New York’s uninspired offense barely shot 40%.

The bench provided some uplift in the second frame. Tyler Kolek (eight points, four dimes, 13 minutes) and Mohamed Diawara delivered treys, and Landry Shamet chipped in a bucket to stay competitive. Shamet was the human torch tonight, dropping 23 points and hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Although L.A. led for most of the second quarter, when Kolek scored five unanswered points, the Knicks briefly went ahead with 4:40 left.

KAT returned and worked the glass, but the Knicks turned the ball over at a 2:1 ratio, thus hindering their progress. Across the aisle, LeBron (22 points) steadied things with midrange scores and free throws, while Ayton (13 points, five boards) and Hachimura (11 points, three rebounds) tidied up the iron. When a well-rested Luka checked back in, he fully shifted the balance back from orange to yellow. Sticking to the game plan, L.A. carried a 56-52 lead into intermission.

hart of the city pic.twitter.com/2AetGDzF1Y

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 2, 2026

Through the first half, the Goldtrotters outshot the Knicks overall, 49% to 43%, with both teams attempting 43 field goals. New York had the better numbers from deep (41% to 30%) and on the glass (24-19), but had been outscored in the paint by eight and committed six turnovers. At the break, Luka led all scorers with 18 points and seven boards, while OG had 11 points for the hometown heroes.

Out of halftime, the Knicks went on a 12-7 run to reclaim the lead. With more focused hustle and flow, the starters made their shots, Josh Hart (20 points, four boards, 8-of-11 FG) provided invigorating constant motion, and Towns ruled the boards, collecting six boards and six points in the period.

A mid-quarter Hart three-pointer put New York up by six. He, Anunoby, and Shamet were shooting 18-of-27 for 50 points, while their teammates had hit just 16-of-53. Around then, Luka hit the jets to spark a 9-2 run and go ahead again, but our heroes responded with back-to-back Anunoby dunks and a Shamet breakaway that restored their advantage and set the crowd roaring. After that 15-5 run, the Knicks closed the frame, 90-82.

OG ANUNO-

14 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST pic.twitter.com/TqpUqKqEG5

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 2, 2026

New York kept pace with L.A. through the fourth with inside finishes from Bridges and Anunoby and a timely Hart three. Luka delivered a bomb that had the makings of trouble, but Shamet and Bridges countered with triples of their own. Around the three-minute mark, with a 10-point differential, Hart played excellent defense on Luka and altered a last-second heave. By not fouling, Hart forced a shot-clock violation, and Anunoby dunked on the subsequent possession. That sequence put a lid on the game. Smart drilled from deep near the two-minute mark, but two more bombs from ShamWow in the final minute-and-a-half drove in the final nails.

LeBron's defense SEALED the win for the Knicks:

Gives up open 3
Gives up offensive rebound
Gives up open 3 again

Just standing around pic.twitter.com/dcCaKqJmNW

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) February 2, 2026

Up Next​

Professor Miranda is on your recap. As for our heroes, they’ll travel to D.C. to face the Wizards on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...kers-100-scenes-from-a-second-half-turnaround