New York Knicks’ uncharacteristic play at home leads to loss against Trailblazers
The New York Knicks have played well at home this season but their losing streak reached three games on Monday night when they fell to the Portland Trailblazers 103-91.
The New York Knicks that we’ve become accustomed to seeing, playing with grit, determination, and maximum effort at Madison Square Garden, weren’t on full display Monday night. A valiant effort in the fourth quarter just wasn’t enough as the Portland Trailblazers were able to beat the Knicks at home 103-91.
The Knicks (10-10) suffered their third straight loss at the hands of the Trailblazers led by Damian Lillard. The Madison Square Garden faithful were not impressed by the team’s play Monday night as boos and moans scattered throughout the arena due to the lack of execution and determination that has been on display all season at home.
At home, where the Knicks had won nine of their previous twelve games, they had been able to capitalize on opposing teams’ mistakes, suffocate with stifling defense, and display great ball movement that had fans and analysts buzzing about the future and the potential of this new-look Knicks team.
Well, for the time being, all that talk is on pause. The Blazers were able to gain a 16-point lead on a 17-1 run that started at the beginning of the first quarter and led into the second. The Knicks trailed 90-64 after the third and were able to pull within single digits in the fourth quarter before the Blazers were able to finally run away with the game.
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The comeback in the fourth quarter fell short despite Tim Hardaway Jr.’s three-pointer and Frank Ntilikina’s jumper to cut the Blazers’ lead to 12. Kristaps Porzingis returned from injury with 22 points on a rough night that saw him go 6-for-16 from the field.
The Blazers were led by Damian Lillard’s 32 points and five assists. Pat Connaughton, the third-year guard out of Notre Dame, added 17 points and big men Noah Vonleh and Jusuf Nurkić’s near double-doubles helped the Blazers get their 13th win of the season.
The energy and drive that has been showcased all season thus far are what has the Knicks’ potential at a sky-high level but the problem is the inconsistency that seems to haunt them as of late.
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Home matchups against the Miami Heat Wednesday and the Orlando Magic Sunday should allow the New York Knicks to get back on track.