Portland despite the absences beats New York at the end of a challenge pulled in the final, driven by a monumental Damian Lillard – the engine of a team that also collects 16 points off the bench by Anfernee Simons. The Knicks try them all, place the partial in the last quarter and also arrive at four lengths 19 seconds from the siren, definitively pushed back by a couple of free throws by Carmelo Anthony – former of the day and author of 12 points with 14 shots from the field.
However, it is impossible not to mention Lillard who loads the Blazers on his shoulders in one of the many matches in which Portland is forced to do without Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum: the n ° 0, author of 39 points with 11/17 to the shooting (at the end of the first half they were 25 without errors from the field, 8/8), seasoned with eight assists and 6/10 from three points. A game as an MVP, as a leader, as a player ready to take the spotlight even without having the necessary supporting cast alongside him.
However, it is necessary to underline the attitude of the Knicks – a team profoundly different from the submissive and intangible one of the past years. New York struggles, tries and enjoys a 31-point Immanuel Quickley off the bench – chosen on the first lap of the last Draft who is doing very well, just like Obi Toppin. Julius Randle adds 25, but Coach Thibodeau’s team can’t avoid the second defeat in a row.