NEW YORK — Guard Damian Lillard scored 30 points and the surging Portland Trail Blazers continued rolling with a 104-85 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
Lillard reached 30 points for the eighth time in his last nine games. He also made 10 free throws, extending his streak to 49.
Lillard reached 20 points for the 11th straight game, the longest by a Trail Blazer since forward LaMarcus Aldridge also had 11 consecutive 20-point games from Jan. 4 to Jan. 25, 2014.
His latest performance helped Portland win for the 10th time in 12 games and 18th time in its last 22 games.
Lillard scored 24 points in the first half as Portland took an eight-point lead. He helped the Trail Blazers seize control by scoring 11 straight points in a span 1:50 and 14 of their final 16 at the half.
After Lillard dominated the latter stages of the second quarter, guard C.J. McCollum helped Portland get further separation in the third. He scored 13 of his 25 points in the quarter and made three key plays once the Knicks got within six late in the quarter.
Forward Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points for the Knicks, who lost for the 15th time in their last 18 games. Guard Arron Afflalo added 13 and rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis was held to 11 as New York went 3 of 21 from the field in the fourth quarter.
Fans entertained themselves during a lopsided fourth quarter by booing loudly after each missed New York shot and chanting for guard Jimmer Fredette.
Fredette checked in with 3:13 remaining, but on the next possession Lillard reached 30 points with a 3-pointer.
The Trail Blazers led for the final 28 1/2 minutes and Lillard helped them open a 58-50 lead with two 3-pointers, three foul shots and a 21-footer.
Portland did not officially begin pulling away until late in a third quarter. A 3-pointer by forward Lance Thomas cut New York’s deficit to 78-72 with 1:42 remaining.
McCollum knocked down two shots and then made a nifty cross-court pass to guard Allan Crabbe, resulting in a corner 3-pointer and an 85-72 lead through three quarters.
NOTES: Terry Stotts was named Western Conference coach of the month after Portland won nine of 11 games. Stotts joined Nate McMillian and Rick Adelman as Trail Blazers coach to win the award three times. “My reaction is that generally it’s about the players and how well they’ve been playing and how well the team’s doing,” Stotts said. …. Knicks interim coach Kurt Rambis conceded that F Kristaps Porzingis and C Robin Lopez have not played together the way he thought they would. Rambis said he would like Porzingis to run the floor more to be the first big man in the low post. … G Jimmer Fredette’s first 10-day contract with the Knicks expires Thursday. If he is not re-signed, available free agent guards include Tony Wroten and Ray McCallum. Wroten was released by the Philadelphia 76ers in December and McCallum was waived Monday by the San Antonio Spurs.