End of (bad) series for the Blazers, who manage to stop the bleeding by winning on the floor of the Knicks (132-129), after four defeats in a row.
Hotly contested throughout, this match found its outcome in overtime, after a “game-winner” missed by Jalen Brunson at the end of regulation time. It was Anfernee Simons, with two decisive award-winning shots, and Jerami Grant, with three equally decisive free throws, who made the difference during the extra period of play.
Over the 53 minutes played, the two Portland players simply compiled 82 of their team’s 132 points (44 for Grant, 38 for Simons), which they carried on their shoulders in attack, even if Jusuf Nurkic was a big assist with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
On the Knicks side, a great fighting spirit displayed but still some regrets. In particular the fact of having led by 14 points in the first half, but also and above all of having had match points at the end of the game, without having succeeded in concretizing them.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Jerami Grant has shot as many free throws as the Knicks. Author of his best game of the season on the offensive level, the strong winger of the Blazers finished with 44 points with only 10 shots scored, because 21 units came from his 28 passages on the free throw line! Or the same total as the Knicks. In the absence of Damian Lillard, and as Anfernee Simons gradually ramped up, the Syracuse former was consistently aggressive towards the circle, and he was rewarded. Collectively, the Blazers attempted 51 free throws! The difference was clearly made in this compartment of the game.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Anfernee Simons. Another strongman of the Blazers in this exciting meeting, he finished with 38 points at 13/25 and 8/8 in throws, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. All this, with the best +/- of his team, at +16. Above all, he took matters into his own hands in the last quarter to fend off the Knicks’ last assaults in regulation time, then in overtime, by scoring two award-winning shots from the start to help secure the victory definitively. A great attacking match for Damian Lillard’s “backcourt” colleague.
✅ Josh Hart. Remarkable outing from the all-purpose winger from Portland, who only scored 10 points, but grabbed… 19 rebounds! He adds to that 4 assists and 2 interceptions. A blue-collar match reminiscent of the heyday of his Villanova years. The MVP of effort and combativeness, in this match.
✅ Jalen Brunson. In a rather productive but not really effective five major, since no holder is in the positive +/- at the final buzzer, the Knicks point guard has been a stabilizing presence, as since the start of the season. He compiled 32 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and almost crucified the Blazers at the siren of the fourth quarter, but his “floater” missed its target by a few tiny centimeters.
✅ Immanuel Quickley. Very good game out of the bench of the Knicks wisp, who with +7 offers the best +/- of his team, in the form of 18 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. A solid performance in a role of “combo-guard”, in relay and alongside Jalen Brunson, and especially achieved in the absence of Derrick Rose. Note, when we know that their two names would circulate a priori in transfer rumors…
⛔️ Blazers bench production. Only 13 points for the Portland substitutes, shared between Trendon Watford (8) and Shaedon Sharpe (5). A low production which did not harm their team this time since the duo Grant – Simons took care of everything, but to watch, and especially to improve for the future.
THE FOLLOWING
– Knicks (9-10) : reception of the Grizzlies, on the night of Sunday to Monday (00:00)
– Blazers (11-8) : short trip to the other side of the East River, in Brooklyn, Sunday at 9:00 p.m.
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