This is a prime spot for the Knicks to take full control and dominate a short-handed Portland team. Jalen Brunson is out, but that just means it’s Karl-Anthony Towns time to shine, and the matchup couldn’t be better. With Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant already ruled out, the Blazers will have no answer inside. Rookie Donovan Clingan will be forced to hold down the paint, and against a versatile scorer like KAT, that’s a problem.

Defensively, Portland is in bad shape. Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams are both questionable, which means the Blazers’ best defenders might not even play. Without them, Portland is going to struggle to get stops, giving the Knicks clean offensive looks all night long.

On the boards, New York has a massive edge. The Knicks are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, and with Portland missing their top bigs, they’re going to control the glass from start to finish.

At the end of the day, this comes down to matchups and availability. The Knicks have the talent, the size, and the advantage in every key area. Lay the points. New York will roll.