PORTLAND, Ore. – The Knicks have received a lot of production from their bench all season, especially sixth man of the year candidate Immanuel Quickley and last month’s acquisition of Josh Hart.
Miles “Deuce” McBride also had another big impact Tuesday night, scoring a career-best 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including four three-pointers, as the Knicks beat Trail 123-107 in 25 minutes. Blazers to wrap up four-game West Coast road trip.
“Honestly, I knew I had to step up,” McBride said after Tuesday’s game. “At the end of a road trip, I felt like the four of us went out and I wanted to be the spark, give the energy and do what I can.”
McBride was the first to knock Hart out of the rotation when the Blazers arrived on Feb. 8, but Jalen Brunson has appeared in all but two of the last six games in that span with a bruised left foot. protective walking boot.
Miles McBride, who scored a career-best 18 points, scored a touchdown in the Knicks’ 123-107 win over the Trail Blazers.NBAE via Getty Images
McBride also contributed on both ends in Sunday’s win over the Lakers to help stop a three-game skid, with one layup and two key 3-pointers, three steals for eight points in 17 minutes.
“It’s huge. … But honestly, if I didn’t get a point and we win, I’d be happy. “I think the second unit knows that when we come in, our job is just to see the score, understand what we need to do as a unit and move the needle. And I think it comes in. and we did that.”
On Sunday, Tom Thibodeau called the team’s latest bench play “phenomenal.”
McBride has also received praise from his coach for regularly being ready despite the uncertainty surrounding his place in the rotation.
“He’s tremendous, and it’s not just his hitting but his defense, he plays hustle,” Thibodeau said. “When you make plays like that, it just brings the team together and inspires them. You see a boy running around and suddenly he’s got a robbery; We have a simple bowl. That’s how you win.”
Brunson sat out the third straight game and the fifth time in six for the Knicks.
Jerami Grant (quad contusion) did not play for the Blazers.
Isaiah Hartenstein had zero points and double-digit rebounds (10) for the second straight game.