In a thrilling matchup, the New York Knicks brought an end to the Portland Trail Blazers' impressive five-game winning streak with a final score of 123-114 on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Jalen Brunson was a standout player for the Knicks, scoring an impressive 26 points, while OG Anunoby contributed significantly with 24 points of his own. Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points along with 11 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges played a solid game, finishing with 18 points, six assists, and six rebounds. This victory was particularly sweet for the Knicks, as they had recently struggled, losing five out of their last six games.
On the opposing side, Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 25 points, but his performance was cut short when he injured his back while attempting to secure a rebound in the closing moments of the game, forcing him to exit to the locker room. The severity of his injury remains uncertain at this time.
During the game, the Knicks built a 10-point lead in the third quarter. However, the Blazers fought back, tying the game at 92 thanks to a dunk by Robert Williams III early in the fourth quarter. They briefly took the lead with a floater and a free throw from Avdija. The game saw several lead changes until Miles McBride hit a crucial pull-up three-pointer, giving the Knicks a 109-104 lead with just 3:47 left on the clock. Brunson then extended the Knicks’ advantage further with another three-pointer, making it 117-107 with only 2:23 remaining, effectively sealing the victory.
The Knicks also celebrated the return of starting forward Josh Hart, who had been sidelined since Christmas Day due to an ankle injury. Hart made quite an impact in his comeback, contributing 18 points. Meanwhile, the Blazers welcomed back guard Jrue Holiday, who had been out of action since mid-November due to a calf injury. Before his injury, Holiday was averaging 16.7 points and a career-high 8.3 assists this season. In this game, he managed to score eight points in 16 minutes of play.
The first half was closely contested, with Hart showing no signs of rust and scoring 12 points in 14 minutes. The Knicks managed to create a small lead towards the end of the half, going up 60-54 after a basket from Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson's driving layup early in the third quarter pushed New York’s lead to 72-62, but the determined Blazers chipped away at the deficit, narrowing the gap to 90-88 early in the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Knicks are set to face the Sacramento Kings next on Wednesday night, while the Trail Blazers will be competing against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.
