Knicks at Trail Blazers
The New York Knicks have dropped four straight and eight of their last 10 as the offense struggles to find a rhythm. The Knicks will try to snap the slide and salvage the finale of the three-game road trip when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
New York is averaging 91 points in its last eight losses and shot under 40 percent from the floor in losses to Utah and Sacramento to begin the trip. The featured frontcourt tandem of star Carmelo Anthony and rookie Kristaps Porzingis are at the front of the shooting struggles and are a combined 17-of-51 from the floor in the first two games of the trip. The Trail Blazers are returning home after a 106-96 win in Phoenix on Friday secured a 2-2 road trip. C.J. McCollum helped cover for an off-shooting night by star Damian Lillard with 26 points in the win, and averaged 21 on the trip.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), CSN Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (10-14): The trip to Portland marks the return of center Robin Lopez, who signed with New York as a free agent over the summer after spending the previous two seasons as a member of the Trail Blazers. The veteran big man is averaging 6.9 points on a career-low 45.1 percent shooting 24 games into his tenure with New York and has seen his playing time decrease with Porzingis getting longer looks in small-ball sets. Lopez logged more than 23 minutes once in the last nine games and has not scored in double figures in that span.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (10-14): Portland is slowly making itself relevant while working in its new pieces and is battling down the stretch. Friday’s triumph improved the club to 3-3 in December, and the three losses came by a total of 10 points against the likes of Dallas, Cleveland and Milwaukee. That stretch coincides directly with a boosted role for Allen Crabbe, who is making himself a valuable contributor off the bench and is averaging 15.2 points in December after putting up 8.7 in November.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks G Arron Afflalo is 0-of-13 from 3-point range over the last four games.
2. Trail Blazers F Al-Farouq Aminu recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds on Friday for his fifth double-double of the season.
3. Portland has taken six straight in the series and beat New York 101-79 at home last season.