Blazers win fourth straight, drop Knicks to 4-18

NEW YORK (AP) -- LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and the Portland Trail Blazers regrouped after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter to beat the New York Knicks 103-99 on Sunday night for their fourth straight victory.

Carmelo Anthony had 23 points with LeBron James sitting courtside, but the Knicks lost their eighth straight and 12th in their last 13. J.R. Smith scored 20 points off the bench and Amare Stoudemire added 16 for New York, whose 4-18 start is a franchise worst.

The Trail Blazers have won five straight games over New York.

Wesley Matthews had 17 points for the Trail Blazers, who led 89-79 with 8:04 left in the fourth before New York stormed back with a 16-5 run.

With a night off in New York before Cleveland visits Brooklyn on Monday, James was back at Madison Square Garden for the second time in four nights. He helped the Cavaliers beat the Knicks on Thursday.

Anthony's basket gave the Knicks a 97-95 lead with 3:33 remaining, Damian Lillard made a free throw, and after a turnover by Stoudemire, Aldridge made two free throws to give Portland the lead for good, 98-97 with 2:46 left.

New York cut it to 100-99 on Stoudemire's dunk with 1:27 left, but Aldridge answered right back with a 14-foot jumper and Portland held on to improve to 16-4, tied for the second-best record in the league.

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Before Terry Stotts took over, the Trail Blazers were 2-3 in their previous five games against the Knicks.

Knicks: New York is 2-9 in games decided by five points or less. ... The Knicks have lost 16 of their last 18 games.

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: Visit Detroit on Tuesday.

Knicks: Visit New Orleans on Tuesday.

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