Sumptuous third quarter of the Knicks who, still without Jalen Brunson, beat Portland at home with a 42-26 run at the beginning of the second half and led by 26 points by Immanuel Quickley, by 24 by Julius Randle and by 22 with 8/13 from the field of RJ Barrett – in a team with a strong identity that enjoys five players in double figures and with a great Josh Hart available; the ex of the day who finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes off the bench.
For Portland, on the other hand, the playoffs now seem only a mirage, despite a quintet all in double figures and a Damian Lillard, as often happens, overflowing and author of 38 points with 8/17 from the arc, seven rebounds and seven assists, with Anfernee at his side Simons with 22 points on 10 shots and a Matisse Thybulle with 15 points and eight rebounds. However, the Blazers are only in 13th place in the East – at the moment too far away to hope for a season-ending miracle.