Knicks Pour their Hart Into It. With OG, McBride & Mitch. NY 123 Portland 114

January 14, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Mikal Bridges had 18 pts in a balanced Knick attack. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Josh Hart returned for the first time since Christmas due to a sprained ankle, and was the energizer the Knicks needed with hustle plays, rebounds, defense, and fast-break attacks as NY beat the Trail Blazers, 123-114, on a late Sunday afternoon in Portland.

Even with all that from Hart, Portland was still ahead 104-103 with 4:20 left in the game when the Knicks got 2 consecutive steals that led to 2 consecutive 3’s — the first a steal by Mikal Bridges that led to a 3 by OG Anunoby, and then a steal by OG that led to a 3 by Miles McBride for a 109-104 Knick lead with 3:50 left.

OG hit Another 3 on the next possession, and then Josh Hart stole the ball and scored on a drive for 11 straight Knick points, a 114-104 lead, and essentially ballgame.

Hart had 18 pts on 7-15 shooting (3-5 from 3), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a block and he wasn’t the only one whose high energy infused NY:

  • Mitchell Robinson was a BEAST again with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in 25 minutes,
  • OG Anunoby had 24 pts on 9-15 shooting (4-7 from 3),
  • Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 pts (on 9-13 shooting, 2-3 from 3) with 11 rebounds,
  • Mikal Bridges had 18 pts on 8-15 shooting with 3 steals, and
  • El maestro Jalen Brunson led NY with 23 pts on 10-19 shooting (3-9 from 3) with 8 assists.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 25 pts, Sheldon Sharpe had 23 pts, and Caleb Love had 21 pts.

“What I bring to this team is toughness, physicality, extra-effort plays; plays that get guys going,” said Josh Hart afterwards when asked if he prided himself on his offense or his ability to make hustle plays. “That’s what I try to do. Playing in the pocket — give OG, Mikal  open corner shots — that’s something I bring to the game. Offense… it will be there some games; some not. But I build myself on that toughness.”

NY improves to 25-14; Portland falls to 19-21.

1. Hart Is Back; Tie Game After 1 Quarter

In the 3 weeks that Josh Hart was out, NY went 3-5 in 8 games. Hart came out without any rust — he was On Fire — hitting consecutive 3’s and a deuce as NY raced out to a 13-8 lead.

Then Jalen Brunson knocked down a couple of 3’s, KAT hit a 3, and OG slammed one home and NY was up 26-21.

Deni Avdija, Caleb Love, and Shaedon Sharpe were leading the Portland attack.

Sharpe scored 6 straight Portland points at the end of the quarter, while Mikal Bridges answered with 6 straight points for NY; the score at the end of 1 was 34-34.

2. Knicks Up 65-60 at the Half

Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson played together to start the 2nd quarter and were devastating inside. KAT powered in for drives while Robinson scored on a dunk off an offensive rebound, then a dunk off a KAT assist. Robinson returned the favor with a pass to KAT for a dunk and a 45-42 Knick lead midway thru the quarter.

Both took turns blocking Jrue Holiday shots as well.

Hart continued to add to the offense, as did Brunson with KAT scoring inside; NY led 65-60 at the half.

3. Knicks Up 90-85 After 3 — Hart at the Heart of It

Josh Hart continued to make his imprint on the game — diving for a loose ball/steal of the ball early in the 3rd, and feeding Brunson for a layup ahead of the field for a 72-62 Knick lead.

“Josh Hart is a winning player who makes winning plays which is often taken for granted,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Josh is never going to cheat you of effort/activity, turns 50/50 balls into 20/80 balls, never quits on a play, outworks you, fearless all while playing for the name on the front not the back.”

NY continued to get a balanced attack — with Brunson, Bridges, McBride, and KAT joining Hart, while Portland continued to get buckets from Shaedon Sharpe and Caleb Love. NY held a 90-85 lead heading into the 4th.

4. Close Game in the 4th

Robert Williams III was a pain in the ass at the start of the 4th, getting buckets inside, and then Deni Avdija, Caleb Love and Donovan Clingan kept breaking free for scores to keep the game razor close.

When Shaedon Sharpe hit a 3 with 5:24 left, Portland had a 104-103 lead.

5. Consecutive Steals & 3’s Launch Knicks in Final 4 Minutes

And then with 4:27 left, Mikal Bridges came up with a big steal which led to an OG Anunoby 3 for a Knick lead.

On the very next play, OG Anunoby stole the ball and fed Deuce McBride for a 3 and NY was up 109-104.

HUGE.

After a Portland timeout, they inbounded and Mitchell Robinson blocked Tourmani Camara’s shot inside, leading to another OG 3 and 112-104 Knick lead!

Hart, Hart, and More Hart

And then Josh Hart stole the ball — again — and drove ahead of the court for a layup and 114-104 Knick lead with 2:53 left.

Jrue Holiday came back with a 3, but Brunson answered with a 3; Sharpe hit free throws and a 3 to pull Portland within 117-112 with 1:48 left — but Josh Hart hit another jumper to give NY a 119-112 lead with 1:25 left.

And then Knick defense forced a Jrue Holiday miss — and Josh Hart grabbed the rebound and drove upcourt — missing the contested shot but OG was there for the offensive rebound and putback for a 121-112 Knick lead with 56 seconds left and ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810406

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*