The New York Knicks, re-engaged on the defensive end of the floor while seeking higher-percentage shots, rolled to victory on Friday night.
A 127-97 beatdown of the Portland Trail Blazers provided Mike Brown and company collected their fifth-straight victory.
Jan. 30, 2026: Final
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From the jump, the Knicks asserted their will in a familiar fashion. Since the historic win over the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 21, New York’s identity has seemingly morphed back into the style that suits this roster.
Captain Jalen Brunson led the way, as usual, with 26 points on 8 of 20 shooting. Brunson also chipped in with 2 steals, and while he only finished with 3 assists, he and his teammates worked for higher-percentage shots early in the contest.
All told, New York shot just eight 3-pointers in the entire first quarter. The Knicks had only shot 10 from beyond the arc with around seven minutes to go in the second quarter.
Not only does this newfound (yet familiar, courtesy of previous seasons) style suit this team’s personnel via a half-court, grinding offense, but it also limits transition defensive opportunities, forcing them to run. When objectively analyzing this roster, it falls short in the athletic and length departments.
However, that doesn’t mean they’re prohibited from shooting the lights out from deep when the opportunity presents itself. This is particularly more seamless after working for and executing those higher-percentage shots early in the game.
After the grinding start that led to a dominating 37-22 lead after the first quarter, New York found its outside-shooting groove. All told, they drilled 19 of 45 shots from deep, with Brunson leading the way (5-12) and OG Anunoby playing the support role (4-8 from three-point land, while finishing with 24 points).
Better yet, the Knicks’ defensive intensity was yet again apparent. Portland shot just 30% from beyond the arc (13-43) and 43% from the field (35-81).
Josh Hart helped the cause with 20 points, whereas Mikal Bridges mustered just 10 points on a stale 3 of 10 shooting.
Karl-Anthony Towns ripped down a monstrous 20 boards (14 defensive) and added 14 points. This latest double-double is his 31st this season, tying him for the NBA lead with the Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson.
The 30-18 New York Knicks sit tied atop the Atlantic Division with the Boston Celtics. Next up is LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for an NBA on NBC game this Sunday at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET tip-off).
