Knicks vs Trail Blazers Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 3/30/2025

The New York Knicks host the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night at Madison Square Garden with both teams heading in opposite directions – the Knicks having won three of their last four while Portland has dropped three straight and is struggling with a depleted roster.

With Portland potentially missing five key players including Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton, and Scoot Henderson, Deni Avdija (coming off a 24-point performance) will need to carry an enormous load against a Knicks squad that's locked into a playoff spot despite missing Jalen Brunson.

The battle between Karl-Anthony Towns, who dominated with 34 points and 14 rebounds in his last outing, and whatever frontcourt Portland can cobble together could be the difference when the injury-ravaged Trail Blazers face the playoff-bound Knicks.

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New York Knicks vs. Portland Trail Blazers preview

The struggling Trail Blazers roll into Madison Square Garden on Sunday night riding a three-game losing streak and facing significant roster challenges with Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, and Deandre Ayton all possibly sidelined for this cross-conference clash.

New York, meanwhile, has been finding their groove despite Jalen Brunson's absence, winning three of their last four games including an impressive road victory against Milwaukee where OG Anunoby exploded for 31 points.

Deni Avdija has emerged as Portland's lone bright spot lately, dropping 24 points with 9 rebounds in their lopsided loss to Sacramento where the Blazers' defense was absolutely shredded, allowing the Kings to shoot a blistering 64.9% from the field.

The Knicks' frontcourt duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anunoby could feast against Portland's depleted interior defense, especially with Towns coming off a monster 34-point, 14-rebound performance against the Clippers.

History doesn't favor Portland either, as the Knicks have taken the last four meetings between these teams, including a nail-biting 114-113 overtime win back in March.

While the Blazers have shown flashes of competitiveness post-All-Star break, their current injury situation has left them desperately thin at multiple positions—not exactly what you want when facing a playoff-bound team in the Garden.

New York's defense has been particularly stingy lately, holding opponents to just 109.3 points over their last ten games, which doesn't bode well for a Portland offense that's been forced to rely heavily on role players stepping up.

With the Knicks looking to solidify their grip on the Eastern Conference's third seed and the Trail Blazers essentially playing out the string, expect Tom Thibodeau's squad to control this one from the opening tip despite their own injury concerns at point guard.