Trail Blazers-Knicks Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Dec 31 2012 2:38PM

Once the most dominant team in the league on their home court, the New York Knicks have stumbled there lately.

Having a pair of All-Star forwards back in the lineup might help them get back on track at Madison Square Garden.

Carmelo Anthony, who missed the last two games with a hyperextended left knee, hopes to return on Tuesday night when New York opens 2013 at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Amar'e Stoudemire could also make his season debut, depending on how his knee responds following workouts on Monday. Stoudemire has been inactive all season after averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 2011-12.

"It would be great if I could go January 1st but again, I can't determine how I feel," Stoudemire said on Sunday. "If I can continue to improve then that will be a great day to start back playing."

Anthony, one of the top scorers in the NBA at 28.5 points per game, has played in seven of the team's last 13 contests because of three different injuries. The Knicks are 18-6 with Anthony in the lineup, but 3-3 without him.

New York (21-9) is home after capping a 1-2 road trip with a 106-105 loss at Sacramento on Friday night when James Johnson made a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Knicks also struggled without Anthony in a 99-97 win at Phoenix two days earlier.

While they opened the season with 10 straight wins on their home floor, the Knicks have split their last four games there. New York slipped defensively in those defeats, allowing season-high point totals at home to Houston (109) and Chicago (110).

Jason Kidd and J.R. Smith, however, have stepped up with point guard Raymond Felton sidelined for at least a month with a fractured finger.

Kidd has averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 assists while shooting 9 of 19 from the 3-point line in the two games Felton has missed. Smith has contributed season highs with 27 and 28 points, respectively, in those two contests.

The Knicks, though, hope Anthony can provide a boost for an offense that has averaged 99.0 points in their last four home games after scoring 106.2 per game in the first 10.

It might not come easy against a Portland team that limited opponents to 92.4 points in winning seven of its last nine games.

The Trail Blazers (15-14) have won seven straight at home to climb above .500, but haven't been able to carry that success to the road. Portland, which opens a four-game trip, suffered both losses during this nine-game stretch away from home.

"We won a few games, had a win streak," guard Damian Lillard told the team's official website. "We have more confidence going into this one."

Lillard will try to shake off his recent road struggles, totaling 26 points on 10-of-31 shooting (32.3 percent) in his last two away from home. The rookie of the year candidate is averaging 18.3 points on the season after scoring 20 in Portland's 89-85 win over Philadelphia on Saturday night.

J.J. Hickson, who looks for his 11th double-double in 12 games, has averaged 15.1 points and 13.2 rebounds over his last 11.

Although the Knicks' poor perimeter defense gave up a season-high 15 3-point field goals against Sacramento, the Trail Blazers aren't likely to cash in with the NBA's worst 3-point shooting percentage (30.4) in December.

Portland, though, could have guard Wesley Matthews - shooting a team-best 39.5 percent from beyond the arc - after he missed the last four games with a strained hip.

The Knicks will try for their third straight win against the Trail Blazers after beating them 121-79 in New York last March.

Blazers overcome Anthony's 45, spoil Amare's debut

By BRIAN MAHONEY
Posted Jan 01 2013 11:34PM

NEW YORK (AP) Amare Stoudemire stood up from the bench and the fans rose with him, a booming ovation filling Madison Square Garden as Stoudemire walked to the scorer's table to enter a game for the first time this season.

The cheers turned to boos just a few minutes later when the Knicks couldn't stop the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers overcame Carmelo Anthony's season high-tying 45 points and spoiled Stoudemire's season debut, beating New York 105-100 on Tuesday night.

Stoudemire finished with six points on 3-of-8 shooting and one rebound in 17 minutes off the bench in his return from knee surgery. He said he nearly shed a tear with the loud appreciation the fans showed him when he checked in, but he couldn't give them anything to keep the cheers going in the first half.

"I felt good," Stoudemire said. "The game felt like it was going 100 mph that first half. Had a couple of easy-looking shots, open shots, just a little bit rusty, wasn't able to knock those down. But the second half was better than my first half. Hopefully my second game will be better than my first game."

Nicolas Batum scored 26 points, rookie Damian Lillard had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Portland, which avenged a 121-79 loss here last March 14.

"When we came last year, that was the biggest loss of my career. Down 42, that was real embarrassing," Batum said. "The only thing on my mind when I came in was just put (down) the stat sheet from last year. That was my motivation for tonight."

Anthony shot 14 of 24 and nearly led the Knicks back from 19 points down after missing two games with a knee injury, but the Trail Blazers had too many options.

J.J. Hickson scored all of his 18 points in the first half as Portland won for the third time in four games.

"This was big time for us. I think we're gaining confidence every day," Lillard said. "Every day that we see ourselves on film, we see the improvements that we've been making and we're getting better. We're starting to trust each other more and we're jelling a lot better than we were and it's showing."

Anthony had missed the previous two games with a hyperextended left knee. The Knicks are still without point guard Raymond Felton because of a broken pinky finger and struggled to get their offense going until too late, losing for the third time in four games.

J.R. Smith had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, but Jason Kidd was scoreless and missed all five shots in 33 minutes.

Stoudemire had surgery on Oct. 31 to clean up tissue in his left knee and decided to play after going through a couple of practices this week, though adding he wasn't yet 100 percent. The former All-Star who has battled injuries in recent years was clearly rusty but showed he can still finish at the rim when set up properly.

Coach Mike Woodson wouldn't say how long Stoudemire would remain a reserve. Stoudemire and Anthony have struggled to play together and the Knicks have a losing record when both play, but Woodson has said the Knicks need both of them on the floor to have a shot at a championship.

"We got him some easy shots tonight. A little rusty but that was expected, he expected that tonight," Anthony said. "Then once he settled down, we got him in the right situations, got him in the right positions, he made some shots. That's going to take some time for him just rebuilding that confidence being back out there on the basketball court, but for the most part the ball's going to find him."

Stoudemire was already done for the night when the Knicks made a late run, cutting an 11-point deficit with 3:16 remaining to 100-97 on Anthony's 3-pointer with 57 seconds left. Lillard answered with a 3-pointer, but the Knicks got it right back down to three again when Anthony converted a three-point play with 29 seconds to go.

The Knicks forced a jump ball and Smith won it, but Anthony missed a 3-pointer. Wesley Matthews, back after missing four straight games with an injured left hip, made two free throws with 13 seconds left to close the scoring.

Stoudemire checked in with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter to the ovation he said was unlike he'd ever experienced in his career. The Knicks went right to him in the post, but he stepped on the baseline while making his move.

The cheers turned to boos, not heard often this season during the Knicks' 12-2 start at home, just a few minutes later.

Portland used an 11-0 run in the second quarter to extend a seven-point lead to 43-25 on Mathews' basket with 7:20 remaining. The lead was 19 when Stoudemire returned with 5:36 left and the Knicks scored seven straight points, but the Blazers regrouped and got it back to 18 after consecutive baskets by Hickson before Stoudemire sat down again.

It was 58-47 at halftime after Anthony banked in a 3-pointer on a broken play with 0.1 seconds left.

The Knicks looked better offensively when Stoudemire returned with 5:06 left in the third quarter and Portland leading by six. He got his first basket when Anthony found him inside with 3:11 left, and he showed his old explosive finishing ability with a dunk later in the period, but the Knicks couldn't close much of the gap because of their poor defense on Batum. The Frenchman scored 13 points and made three 3-pointers in the quarter, giving the Blazers a 78-71 advantage.

Notes: The Knicks fell to 16-7 overall and 13-3 at home on New Year's Day. The record by an opponent for points against the Knicks on Jan. 1 is held by Woodson, who scored 36 for the Clippers in 1988. ... The Blazers' blowout loss here last March came hours after Mike D'Antoni resigned and Woodson became the interim coach. Blazers coach Nate McMillan was fired the next day.

Notebook: Trail Blazers 105, Knicks 100

Joshua Newman, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:41 PM - Updated Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:41 PM

THE FACTS: On a night when Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence and Amar'e Stoudemire made his season debut, the recent struggles at Madison Square Garden continued for the New York Knicks.

Nicolas Batum hit six 3-pointers and scored a team-high 26 points to lead four players in double figures as the Portland Trail Blazers led from beginning to end, led by as many as 19 and held off a late Knicks charge in a 105-100 win.

J.J. Hickson finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Rookie of the Year candidate Damian Lillard added 21 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Anthony, who missed the last two games with a hyperextended left knee, scored a game-high 45 points and shot 14-for-23 to pace the Knicks. J.R. Smith added 28 points off the bench.

QUOTABLE: "Forget the offense, we scored enough points. Defensively, we are not where we were earlier in the season. You can't keep spotting teams 20-plus point leads and think you will come back."

-- Knicks head coach Mike Woodson

THE STAT: The Knicks were dominated down low as the Blazers outscored them 48-36 in the paint and outrebounded them 47-37. Hickson, who came into the game averaging 12.5 points and 11.0 rebounds, shot 9-for-11 and fell just one rebound shy of his team-leading 19th double-double of the season. Starting center LaMarcus Aldridge also registered a strong game down low, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds for his 11th double-double.

TURNING POINT: The Blazers came out swinging against a Knicks defense that has been porous recently at home, but an 11-0 run over a span of 2:25 in the second quarter broke the game wide open. Four different players scored during the run, capped by a Wesley Matthews floater in traffic that gave the Blazers a 43-25 lead with 7:22 to play in the first half. Matthews, back after missing the last four games with a left hip flexor strain, finished with eight points in 30 minutes.

HOT: Smith has been on a tear recently, averaging 25 points over his last five contests entering Tuesday. His strong play and his Sixth Man of the Year candidacy continued against the Blazers with his 28 points on 10-for-22 shooting from the field. The 28 points marked the ninth time he has gone over 20 points this season and the fifth time in the last six games. Additionally, he has now scored at least 25 points in four consecutive games for the first time in his career.

NOT: As a whole, the Knicks have not been very good recently at Madison Square Garden. Since ripping off 10 straight wins at home to open the season, they are just 2-3 in their last five at home. In all three losses, the Knicks have given up at least 105 points.

QUOTABLE II: "After those two days of practice with the team, I was able to get a good indication on how I truly feel. I felt better after day one, I felt even better after day two. I can feel the progress and I can feel the improvement."

-- Stoudemire said pregame on practicing Sunday and Monday before deciding he would play on Tuesday.

QUOTABLE III: "It was unbelievable. I think the fans showed something tonight by standing up and giving Amar'e that ovation. Knowing everything he's been through again with the injuries, it felt good to see that."

-- Anthony said of the standing ovation Stoudemire received when he checked into the game for the first time at the 3:31 mark of the first quarter.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Actors Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Alda and John Leguizamo watched the game courtside.

NOTABLE: Stoudemire missed the first 30 games of the season thanks to left knee surgery in the preseason, but checked in at the 3:31 mark of the first quarter to a standing ovation. He promptly turned the ball over on his first touch, shot 0-for-2 from the field in the first quarter and 3-for-8 for the game. While Tuesday marked the 642nd regular season game of Stoudemire's career, it was just the 18th time he came off the bench and the first time since the 2006-07 season.

UP NEXT: For the Knicks, Thursday vs. San Antonio, Saturday @ Orlando, Monday vs. Boston. For the Trail Blazers, Wednesday @ Toronto, Friday @ Memphis, Saturday @ Minnesota.

• Trail Blazers: Leonard, Williams
• Knicks: Felton, Shumpert

• Trail Blazers: --
• Knicks: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Officials: #14 Ed Malloy, #79 Kevin Scott, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 19033
• Duration: 2:24