The New York Knicks are halfway through a West Coast road trip in which they have hand one oustanding performance and one well, not so outstanding performance.
The Knicks opened the four-game West Coast swing by blowing out the Phoenix Suns, 121-96. They followed that up with a stinker Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, falling by the un-competitive score of 109-87. The 21-15 Knicks have two more tough West Coast games this week before returning to Madison Square Garden Friday night to host the 8-26 Sacramento Kings.
Tuesday night the Knicks will be in Portland to face the 20-18 Trail Blazers. Portland is led by LaMarcus Aldridge (20.5 points, 8.8 rebounds per game) and Brandon Roy (16.6 ppg.).
Wednesday night the Knicks will head on over to Utah to face the 25-13 Jazz. Deron Williams averages 21.8 points and 9.3 assists, Paul Millsap averages 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds and Al Jefferson averages 16.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for Utah.
The Knicks are continuing to play without starting forward Danilo Gallinari, out with a knee injury.