The Portland Trail Blazers (12-6) take on the New York Knicks (8-8) at Madison Square Garden at 4:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Channel 37.
Portland has won three consecutive games against the Knicks, including the last two games in New York. A win against the Knicks would give the Trail Blazers its longest win streak of the season at five, as well as improve the record against Eastern Conference teams to 6-0.
New York and Portland had split four consecutive season series before Portland earned the sweep in 2007-08 with two overtime victories. The Trail Blazers were 5-2 overall in seven games played in extra time last season.
The Trail Blazers are coming off a 96-85 win Sunday against the Detroit Pistons in which Portland sealed the victory with a decisive 18-3 run in the fourth quarter led by Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.
The New York Knicks recently traded away their top two scorers. They sent guard Jamal Crawford to Golden State for forward Al Harrington, and then sent former Trail Blazer Zach Randolph and backup guard Mardy Collins to the Clippers for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley.
Coming off the trade, the new-look Knicks clobbered the Warriors 138-122 with Coach Mike D’Antoni’s potent offensive attack. Knicks forward David Lee had 37 points and 21 rebounds and guard Chris Duhon had a Knicks franchise record 22 assists.
Portland guard Martell Webster is close to returning after doctors discovered a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his left foot after the first game of the preseason. Webster had a surgery Oct. 9 and has been cleared to run and take part in non-contact parts of practice.
While there is a chance Webster will return during this road trip, it’s not definite.
"There is a really good chance I won't play at all this road trip," Webster said. "So I will use the time to get my body back in game shape and get my endurance up."
Knicks point guard Nate Robinson has missed two games after straining his groin Nov. 25 against the Cavaliers. He is listed as day-to-day, but it is not known if he will suit up against the Trail Blazers. Robinson’s 45 points in an overtime game on March 8, 2008 were the most ever scored by a New York Knick against the Trail Blazers. He averaged a team-best 31.0 points (51.1% FG) and 6.0 assists in two games vs. Portland last season.
Brandon Roy was named the Western Conference player of the week after averaging 20 points, 6 assists and 5.3 rebounds while leading the Trail Blazers to a perfect 4-0 week with wins against Sacramento, Miami, New Orleans and Detroit. Roy recorded his first and only career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Portland’s 94-88 overtime
win over the Knicks on Feb. 1, 2008.
