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Blazers beat Knicks 118-114: Game Recap
By InsideHoops.comNovember 20, 2018
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PREGAME
The Knicks are wearing home white. Which used to be standard, but in today's game it's a rare treat that the home team is wearing the color we've spent our entire lives expecting the home team to wear.
The Blazers red uniforms, whatever this version is, are very cool. One of my favorites.
FIRST QUARTER
It's a high-scoring start for the Knicks, who lead 9-6 at 9:10.
Mairo Hezonja cut through the paint and Kanter hit him with a nice pass for a short shot to put the Knicks up 13-10 at 7:50.
Lillard with the range. He splashed a three to tie it at 13.
Layman just missed one of the most wide-open threes I've ever seen. I think he missed because he was confused about being that open.
Hardaway Jr is making it rain. He has 10. Knicks up 23-21.
Lillard is doing work. He's at 13 points and three assists.
End of first quarter: Knicks 35, Blazers 33. The Knicks shot 59.1%, the Blazers 44.4%. Hardaway Jr has 14, Lillard 13.
SECOND QUARTER
Another very, very, very wide open three for a Blazers: Meyers Leonard, who set his feet and nailed it. He has eight points, but on eight shots.
Allonzo Trier continues to show that he belongs in the NBA, nailing a three, putting the Knicks up three, mid second quarter.
Solid performance by former Blazers forward Vonleh so far, who for the Knicks has eight points and four rebounds.
The two sides continue to trade buckets.
Actor Rami Malek is in the building, sitting next to Spike Lee. I love the show Mr. Robot but didn't see it last season for cable TV subscription reasons. And it isn't on Netflix. Will have to find a solution for that.
This game remains close. Knicks up three at 2:42.
Grey’s Anatomy actress Ellen Pompeo is in the building.
This has been one of the best Knicks first halves I've seen in a while.
The Blazers could use a boost. Lillard answered, and snatched a steal and threw down a dunk in the closing seconds.
Halftime: Knicks 60, Blazers 58. Lillard has 19 points, five rebounds and four assists, Hardaway Jr. 19 points on just nine shots, McCollum 14 points, Vonleh 10 points and nine rebounds, Nurkic nine points, five rebounds and three assists, Leonard eight points on eight shots, and Trey Burke seven points but on 3-of-9 shooting.
THIRD QUARTER
Kanter caught a pass, found himself wide open in three-point range, and no Blazers rushed at him. So he swished it .
The Knicks are playing very well and lead third-quarter scoring 15-7 so far. Lillard is performing, McCollum has been decent, but the rest of the Blazers haven't stepped up.
Bench scoring, at the 7:15 mark: Knicks 21, Blazers 16.
The Knicks starters are 8-of-12 from three-point range. The Blazers starters are 9-of-18. The Knicks lead is just four at 6:06.
Nurkic is doing nice things for the Blazers. The talented, versatile center is up to 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
And the Blazers have woken up. Suddenly a number of guys in cool red jerseys are moving faster, cutting more efficiently, playing off each other a bit better, and have taken a lead.
End of third quarter: Blazers 89, Knicks 85. Lillard is now at 25 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Hardaway Jr. 23 points, and McCollum 18. Third quarter scoring was Blazers 31, Knicks 25.
FOURTH QUARTER
Trier, the Knicks rookie guard, deserves another mention. He has guts and skill.
McCollum is doing work. A three and then a few plays later, a drive for a two. He's up to 28 points now.
Unbelievable move just now by Burke, penetrating past multiple defenders for a highlight-film layup. He now has 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting off the bench, with most of those points coming in this quarter.
But, the visitors are up three with 3:40 left.
Big play: Lillard drew a foul during a three-point shot at 2:16, putting the Blazers up 111-107. But Hardaway Jr immediately answered with a layup.. But then McCollum answered with a three. Blazers up five.
At 1:43, Hardaway Jr. drew a foul on a three-point attempt, and hit all three. Blazers up two.
Vonleh to the line against his former team. And he missed both free throws. Blazers ball, up two with a minute left. Lillard then went one-on-one with Burke, forced a tough, well-guarded jumper. Splash. In Burke's face. Blazers up four with 44.4 seconds left.
Hardaway Jr. drives, draws a foul, hits two free throws. Knicks down two, 33 seconds left.
Lillard operates, forces a tough shot that misses, but Evan Turner was at the perfect spot to clean it up, putting the Blazers up four with 9 seconds left.
Knicks inbound. Kanter goes inside for a running hook which misses. Final buzzer sounds shortly after.
FINAL
Final score: Blazers 118, Knicks 114.
For the Blazers: McCollum had 31 points and four rebounds, Lillard 29 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals, Leonard 15 points, and Nurkic 13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
For the Knicks: Hardaway Jr. had 32 points, five rebounds and four assists, Burke 19 points, Emmanuel Mudiay 16 points and four assists, and Vonleh 14 points, 14 rebounds and three steals.
We'll be posting some good interview quotes Wednesday night. Quotes that go beyond this one game.