New York, NY (Sports Network) - Amar'e Stoudemire made his season debut and
Carmelo Anthony returned emphatically from a two-game absence, but the All-
Star duo could not contain Nicolas Batum and the Portland Trail Blazers in
their 105-100 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
The last time the Trail Blazers visited Madison Square Garden they came away
humbled by 42 points, but behind Batum's six 3-pointers and 26 points,
Portland started the new year and its four-game road trip on a winning note.
Damian Lillard chipped in 21 points for Portland, including a key 3-pointer
after New York cut a double-digit deficit to three in the final minute.
LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 19 points and 14 rebounds, while J.J. Hickson
added 18 and nine in the wire-to-wire win, the Blazers' eighth in 10 games.
Stoudemire was a non-factor in his first game since undergoing knee surgery
just before the season. The six-time All-Star came off the bench and played
16-plus minutes, scoring six points on 3-of-8 shooting with one rebound.
Anthony, who had been briefly sidelined with a hyperextended knee, netted a
season high-tying 45 points, but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with
under 16 seconds remaining.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network