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Recap: Knicks 90, Trail Blazers 118
Line Movements
Date: March 31, 2010 10:00 PM EDT
  

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan quickly congratulated his team after they locked up a playoff spot. Brandon Roy said his coach was all business after that.

The Blazers didn't get much time to celebrate following their playoff-clinching 118-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. McMillan already had them focused on the trip to Denver for Thursday night's game against the Nuggets.

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``Coach came in and said, `Congratulations, you clinched.' And then it was kind of like, `All right, we've got Denver tomorrow,'' Roy said.

It is the second straight year the Blazers have made the playoffs after a five-season drought. Portland lost in six games to the Houston Rockets in the first round last year.

The victory was all the sweeter for the Blazers because of all the injuries they've faced this season. Centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla both sustained knee injures that knocked them out for the season.

In all, 12 different Portland players have missed a combined 292 games this season, second in the league only to Golden State. Only Andre Miller and Martell Webster have played in all of Portland's games.

``Things were looking a little shaky early because of so many injuries, but I really believe if you play this game the right way, which these guys have done, you stick together, which they've done, you're going to give yourself a chance to win,' McMillan said. ``They did.'

The Blazers came into the game needing help to reach the postseason. San Antonio defeated Houston 119-102 and Dallas beat Memphis 106-102, meaning all Portland had to do was beat the Knicks to seal it.

Those games were finished when the Blazers went into halftime with a 65-38 lead over New York. They cruised the rest of the way, leading by as many as 36 points.

``We had no energy on both ends of the floor,' Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. ``And when you do that against a good team that is preparing for the playoffs, they're going to be nights like this.'

Portland has won four straight and 12 of its last 14, including six straight home victories. The Blazers have gone 15-5 since the All-Star break and since their acquisition of former Knick Marcus Camby in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

David Lee had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have dropped the first three on a five-game road trip.

Knicks forward Al Harrington tweaked his left ankle in the third quarter and did not return.

It was never close. Portland went ahead 50-30 in the first half after Martell Webster's dunk following a timeout. The Blazers led by as many as 28 in the opening half, with veteran Juwan Howard coming off the bench to score 12 points.

Nicolas Batum hit a 3-pointer to put Portland up 80-44 before the midway point of the third quarter. Before he took a seat on the bench, Brandon Roy dunked to make it 92-63 late in the quarter.

``It's all mental. You've got to want to play hard and play to win,' Knicks rookie Toney Douglas said. ``When we face adversity we can't just fall off. We've got to keep our composure and play hard all game.'

All of Portland's starters sat in the fourth. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points, Batum finished 20 points and Roy had 16. The Blazers won by their biggest margin this season.

The Knicks, who beat the Blazers 93-84 in December at Madison Square Garden, were denied their first season sweep since 1999-2000.

It was Portland's last game this season against an Eastern Conference foe. The Blazers went 17-13 against the East this season.

NOTES: Former Blazer Chris Dudley, a Republican candidate for Governor in Oregon, was among those on hand as the Blazers held their final ``Decade Night' of the season for the team's 40th anniversary. Some fans even held campaign signs during the game. ... Former Blazer Brian Grant was also honored, as was current Blazers broadcaster Antonio Harvey. ... Actor Timothy Hutton was among the fans at the game. ... The Blazers have made the playoffs 28 times since joining the NBA in 1970.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2012
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 CLOSING LAS VEGAS LINE
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 NYK  +600   +11   200.5 
 POR  -800   -11   
LAS VEGAS LINE MOVEMENTS

 CLOSING SPORTSBOOK LINE
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 NYK  +570   +11   200.5 
 POR  -770   -11   
OFFSHORE LINE MOVEMENTS

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 NYK  75%   54%   73% 
 POR  25%   46%   27% 
BT MOVEMENTS

 NBA RECAPS
 Wednesday, Mar 31
 
  •  Lakers at Hawks
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Bucks at Cavaliers
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Clippers at Raptors
7:05 PM EDT
  •  76ers at Bobcats
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Thunder at Celtics
7:35 PM EDT
  •  Suns at Nets
7:35 PM EDT
  •  Heat at Pistons
7:35 PM EDT
  •  Wizards at Hornets
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Kings at Timberwolves
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Mavericks at Grizzlies
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Rockets at Spurs
8:35 PM EDT
  •  Warriors at Jazz
10:05 PM EDT
  •  Knicks at Trail Blazers
10:05 PM EDT
 
 
 
  
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