PORTLAND, Ore. — Mikal Bridges delivered a stunning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the New York Knicks over the Portland Trail Blazers, 114-113, in an overtime thriller Wednesday night at the Moda Center.

Key Performances

• Mikal Bridges: Led the Knicks with 33 points, including the game-winning shot.
• OG Anunoby: Contributed 23 points and seven rebounds.
• Karl-Anthony Towns: Added 21 points and seven rebounds.
• Josh Hart Nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

For the Trail Blazers, rookie Scoot Henderson had a breakout performance, scoring 30 points, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime. Deni Avdija notched a double-double with 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Shaedon Sharpe added 21 points and nine rebounds.

How It Unfolded

The Knicks seemed poised to win in regulation, holding a five-point lead with just over a minute remaining. But Henderson took over, banking in a three-pointer and converting a three-point play to send the game into overtime.

Bridges hit a mid-range jumper to put the Knicks ahead 111-110 with 2:50 left in the extra period. The score remained unchanged until Avdija’s three-point play gave Portland a 113-111 lead with 3.4 seconds to go. With the final possession, the Knicks set up Bridges, who drained a deep three at the buzzer to seal the victory.

Player Reactions

“He hit the shot. He’s the man of the hour, for sure,” Towns said of Bridges’ game-winner.

Bridges, who recently advocated for more minutes for bench players, logged 41 minutes himself, proving his value in crunch time. His confidence never wavered, even after missing a similar shot earlier in overtime.

Knicks Overcoming Challenges

New York played without starting guard Jalen Brunson, sidelined with a sprained ankle. His absence forced players like Landry Shamet to step up. Shamet, who opted for rehabilitation instead of offseason surgery on his shoulder, has been finding his rhythm and contributing valuable minutes off the bench.

Despite being out-rebounded 52-38 and committing 15 turnovers, the Knicks’ clutch shooting and defensive pressure made the difference. They forced 23 Portland turnovers, converting them into 31 points.

What’s Next?

The Knicks improved to 42-23, strengthening their playoff position in the Eastern Conference. They’ll wrap up their road trip against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

The Trail Blazers, now on a five-game losing streak, will continue their seven-game homestand. While the loss stings, the emergence of young stars like Henderson and Avdija offers a glimpse of the team’s future potential.

This marked New York’s seventh overtime game of the season, highlighting both their resilience and the challenges they’ve faced in closing out games. With every win crucial down the stretch, this hard-fought victory reflects the Knicks’ determination and playoff aspirations.