Preview: Trail Blazers at Knicks NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Knicks look to continue their strong play at home and complete a season sweep when they host the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. The Knicks (29-18) enter with a clear advantage in the standings and confidence from a 123-114 victory in Portland just over two weeks ago on Jan. 11. New York has won three of its last four, including a dominant 103-87 home win over Sacramento on Tuesday. Jalen Brunson led the way with 28 points and four assists, continuing his All-Star caliber season. Over his last 10 games, Brunson is averaging 24.5 points and 5.1 assists, serving as the engine for the Eastern Conference contender. Portland (23-25) arrives on the second night of a back-to-back after a narrow 115-111 road loss in Washington on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers have lost three straight but showed resilience, with Shaedon Sharpe erupting for 31 points. The fourth-year guard has been a bright spot, averaging 23.7 points over his last 10 contests. Rookie center Donovan Clingan added 14 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in the loss, providing a major interior presence. The matchup at point guard will be pivotal. Brunson’s orchestration of the Knicks’ offense, supported by Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, contrasts with the explosive scoring burden carried by Sharpe for Portland. In the Jan. 11 meeting, Brunson outdueled his counterpart with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds. New York holds a 17-7 record at Madison Square Garden this season, while Portland is 9-15 on the road. The Knicks’ physical defense, ranked among the league’s best, will test a Portland team playing its fifth game in seven nights. For the Trail Blazers, reversing their recent slide will require containing Brunson and generating more consistent support for Sharpe. For the Knicks, it’s an opportunity to solidify their position before a challenging stretch of schedule in early February. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden.