Bridges, Anunoby help fuel Knicks past Trail Blazers

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News on Mar 30, 2025

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NEW YORK — With Jalen Brunson still rehabbing from a sprained right ankle, the Knicks have had to find new ways to fuel the offense.

The answer in Sunday’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers?

A heavier dose of wings.

OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges each scored 28 points, as the pair of Knicks forwards affectionately referred to as “Wing Stop” combined for 56 points on 23-of-48 shooting from the field to fuel a 110-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

After suffering consecutive losses to bottom-four teams in each conference, the Knicks have now won four of their last five games.

And as a result, New York has strengthened its hold on the East’s No. 3 seed, now 3 1/2 games ahead of the No. 4-seeded Indiana Pacers with only eight games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

The Knicks still have six games left against playoff or Play-In contending opponents — but they have given themselves a cushion to sustain their record, at least until Brunson returns to the rotation.

And the Knicks needed their wings more than ever on Sunday. Karl-Anthony Towns mustered just 10 points and 11 rebounds and 4-of-13 shooting from the field.

Without Brunson, the Knicks have leaned on Anunoby, who scored 23 or more for the sixth game in a row. Anunoby credited his scoring streak to “being aggressive and trusting his work,” but head coach Tom Thibodeau said the star forward who signed a five-year, $212.5 million contract during the offseason is expanding his game.

Anunoby shot 11 of 16 from the field against Portland.

“I think it’s all around. I think you see in transition, you see it in post-ups, you see it off the dribble, you see it in (3s), volume 3s,” Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff on Sunday. “But I think the main thing is what we can get off our defense getting into the open floor where he’s getting downhill and attacking the rim.”

The Knicks advanced to a 7-5 record in games played since Brunson’s March 6 injury on Sunday. New York wasn’t only without its captain against the Trail Blazers.

The Knicks were also short sixth man Miles McBride (groin) and veteran point guard Cameron Payne (ankle). Delon Wright started in place of McBride, and rookie Tyler Kolek played extended minutes once again off the bench.

“We’ve said this all along from the standpoint of, you’re not going to replace Jalen individually. You have to do it collectively, and I think we’ve done that,” Thibodeau said. “And it’s been good for our group from the standpoint of anytime someone goes out, it’s an opportunity for someone else to go in. But I think our defense and our rebounding, we know that everyone is capable of doing that. And if we lock into that and keep our turnovers down, we know we’ll be in position to win. So that’s what we’re striving for. Continue to improve. And when Jalen comes back obviously that adds a lot to our team.”

Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija hung a game-high 33 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the field. Avdija had 27 points and 15 rebounds against the Knicks on March 12, the third game Brunson missed due to the ankle sprain, and three more standout performances against New York predating his trade to the Trail Blazers from the Washington Wizards.

“Terrific. He’s having an unbelievable year,” Thibodeau said of Avdija ahead of tipoff on Sunday. “Just so skilled and doing so many different things. Attacking the basket, making plays, his size, decision-making, plays, his size, ability to get to the rim, score on all different levels. Really developed into a terrific player.”

Next up, the Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday before traveling to Cleveland for the first leg of a back-to-back against the conference-best Cavaliers.

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