While the Philadelphia Eagles were running it up the middle for zero yards over and over again, the Knicks flew into Portland to face the Trailblazers.
The Knicks, losers of 5 of their last 6 games, suddenly in a dog collar match with the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics, battling for second place in the East.
Josh Hart, the Knicks human cheat code, returning to faca a Trailblaziers organization that chose Cam Reddish over him.
The Trailblazers on a 5-game winning streak, including a 5-point victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Dr. Doom in casuals, and back-to-back dubs over the Houston Rockets.
The Knicks beat the Trailblazers, 123-114.
Here are my takeaways from the Saturday night showdown:
1. Josh Hart is an essential worker
Josh Hart in his first game back
18 points
3 rebounds (#washed)
6 assists
3-5 3P
pic.twitter.com/Gg7ti8Y77U— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) January 12, 2026
Last week, I wrote the Knicks needed Josh Hart in the lineup, his minutes spent launching himself into the crowd for loose balls and parachuting from the rafters to grab big rebounds, forcing the other Knicks to hustle, and actually try on more possessions.
But I left out how much he stimulates their halfcourt offense, Hart’s unselfishness, always looking for him teammates before considering his own shot, allows guys like KAT and OG and Bridges, to play more aggresively but also, that unselfishness is contagious. Suddenly, OG Aunobyor Jordan Clarkson is making that extra pass to open teammates.
Josh Hart is an essential worker on the Knicks frontline and everyone in New York should stand on their balconies to give him a round of applause at 8pm every night.
2. Demi IDF ball limited
Prodigal son of Mount Zion, Deni brings his IDF training to the hardwood, pulverizing enemies with brutality and asymmetrical aggression.
While others may euro step around defenders, Deni defies international law, sniping from the perimeter, beelining into collisions, forcing contact whenever the ball hits his palms.
Avdija leads the NBA in free-throw attempts with 396, almost 50 more than SGA in second place.
Deni leads the NBA in And 1’s.
Deni Avdija is on pace to make his first All-Star game on the back of his physical, bruising, pinball style of basketball, learned from years turning Palestinian children’s bones to dust in new, fun, thrilling ways with the homies back at the crib.
But halfway through the 4th, Deni Avdija came up short on a rebound attempt, my boy got his back blown out at the crib, in front of all the Zionist baddies.
Deni Avdija back to locker room on late game injury pic.twitter.com/zGQc40r96P
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 12, 2026
Dang.
3. Mike Brown masterclass
With 9 and a half minutes left in the 4th quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns was subbed out for Mitchell Robinson.
Towns never touched the court again.
Mike Brown’s used Josh Hart’s absense to test Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr, sacrificng potential wins for the sake of experimentation, testing new line ups and possibility around the holidays
But with the team in free fall and Hart back in the lineup, looks like the experiments are over. Time to win again, which meant sitting KAT on the bench the whole 4th quarter so Mitchell Robinson can go out there and do his job.
Here’s what big Mitch did against the Blazers:
- 25 minutes
- 6 points
- 11 rebounds (6 offensive)
- 3 steals
- 3 blocks
- +11
No doubt in my mind, Tom Thibodeau would’ve had KAT dropping in pick and rolls all 4th quarter, Trailblazers strolling into the paint, tossing SlamBall lobs in the air, testicles landing on Towns’s shoulder. Knicks lose.
Mike Brown’s willingness to let guys like Jordan Clarkson or Tyler Kolek or Mitchell Robinson finish 4th quarters with one of the struggling starters on the bench, is why he’s on the sidelines and Thibs is at home, standing in front of the mirror, combing the little hair he has left on his head, before sitting in the local diner all day, sipping one small coffee, talking the waitresses ear off whenever she walks by, hoping Thibs asks for his check so she can clear his table.
4. Time to bail on Scoot
Caleb Love is fucking sick.
Caleb Love keeps knocking down these threes pic.twitter.com/KQ7gPg2PNz
— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) January 11, 2026
The rookie guard scored 21 points with 5 made threes.
It looks like next year is the year Portland intends to be good.
Today was a test.
After 5 straight wins, let’s bring back Jrue Holiday, who, if employed by a winning organization, would’ve been back from that calf injury way sooner, and let’s see if we can beat the Knicks.
They lost to the Knicks.
I’m sure Portland will test how far they can climb in the Western standings before pulling the plug and coasting to the top of the NBA Draft again but first, a stop at the February 5th trade deadline.
If we are to believe Damian Lillard is coming back from a torn achilles next season, presumably as the starting point guard for the Portland Trailblazers, and Caleb Love is playing like this, (and Jrue Holiday is still on the roster), why does Scoot Henderson still have a locker here?
a 5-star recruit. 3rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Shooting 40% from the field in his career and missed all of this season with a torn hamstring.
It’s over.
Time to unleash Caleb Love, draft yet another player who will inevitably become better than Scoot Henderson, and send Scoot to a new loving home.
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