The call was so rare that broadcaster Mike Breen said on the air that he had never seen it at the end of a game in 33 years. The Blazers took advantage. While Mitchell Robinson blocked Deni Avdija on his go-ahead layup attempt, Avdija secured the rebound, made the putback and got fouled in the process.

Mikal Bridges called game on Wednesday night. The New York Knicks’ small forward capped a big individual night with a spectacular 3-point shot at the buzzer to give his team a 114-113 overtime victory on the road over the Portland Trail Blazers.

In more minutes than usual thanks to another overtime, Mikal Bridges scored more than anybody on the Knicks and hit the biggest shot of his Knicks career. With his pregame comments of Tom Thibodeau’s minutes distribution as the backdrop — specifically that he wanted less so that New York’s reserves could get more opportunities — Bridges became the hero of Wednesday’s 114-113 thrilling victory over the Blazers.

Josh Hart jokingly attributes the Knicks' recent defensive success to Jalen Brunson's absence after their win over the Kings.

With Jalen Brunson sidelined due to an ankle sprain, the New York Knicks must elevate their play as a unit. As the regular season winds down, Tom Thibodeau’s team holds the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

Indeed, offensive star Jalen Brunson --Hart's college teammate from Villanova and a close friend--has not been out there for the Knicks. He did play in the Lakers game, but injured his ankle in overtime in that one, and is expected to miss at least two weeks.