The wings once more confirmed why the Knicks have stored afloat with out Jalen Brunson.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges carried a second-half comeback Sunday night for the Knicks, who toppled the Blazers, 110-93, after trailing by double-digits within the third quarter.
Bridges dropped 21 of his 28 factors within the second half, ending 12-for-22 from the sector.
Anunoby adopted his 31-point effort Friday with 28 on Sunday. He’s scored at the least 23 within the final six video games.
Their offense made up for an off evening from Karl-Anthony Cities, who shot simply 4 for 13 with 10 factors.
Anunoby and Bridges had been additionally making up for the continued absence of Jalen Brunson, who missed his twelfth straight with a sprained ankle however revealed Sunday he’s resumed “basketball actions” with a purpose of returning earlier than the playoffs.
The Knicks (47-27), who clinched a playoff spot and moved nearer to locking up the third seed, improved to 7-5 with out Brunson.
Josh Hart flirted with a triple-double once more with 14 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds.
The Knicks turned the tide within the third quarter, launching a 22-7 run to take a 1-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The tip of the primary half was a battle for the Knicks.
After main by 10 with about 5 minutes remaining within the second quarter, they allowed Portland to go on a 20-3 run and went into the break with an eight-point deficit.
That hit 14 within the third quarter.
Earlier than that, the Knicks had been rolling.
Their spotlight sequence was an early second-quarter rejection from Cities, which Achiuwa flicked up within the air over the defender to guide a self-breakaway for a finger roll and seven-point benefit.
The Knicks had been once more working makeshift at level guard. Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cam Payne had been all out with accidents.
Delon Wright (7 factors, 35 minutes) made his second straight begin, consequently, with Tyler Kolek (0 factors, 14 minutes) because the again up.
The Knicks final performed the Blazers only a couple weeks prior in Portland, the place Bridges hit the largest shot of his New York profession – a buzzer-beating game-winning trey in time beyond regulation.
That contest was additionally performed with out Brunson, who spoke to the media Sunday for the primary time since spraining his ankle and revealed he’s been cleared for “basketball actions.”
The Blazers (32-43) are nonetheless within the race for a play-in spot however, for all intents and functions, are trying once more on the draft lottery.
Anunoby and Bridges despatched them additional down that highway Sunday.
