Nicolas Batum break out as Blazers dominate New York Knicks

The Trail Blazers weren't desperate for a game to get right and find their rhythm.

Winners of eight of their last nine and coming off a 21-point drubbing of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Blazers didn't come into Sunday night's game against the New York Knicks needing to reestablish a pace or identity.

But against the undermanned and struggling Knicks, Portland put together a performance on which it can build.

Wesley Matthews tied a season-high with 28 points, Joel Freeland recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Nicolas Batum broke out of a season long slump, finishing with 17 points while hitting five three pointers.

Portland blitzed New York from the opening tip outscoring the Knicks 31-22 in the first quarter while shooting 12-for-18 from the floor and connecting on 6-of-8 three pointers.

Matthews in particular had the hot hand early, knocking down three three-pointers in the opening quarter and finishing with 13 points.

"It's contagious. It was just was a good vibe from the jump," Matthews said of the hot start. "I think I missed the first one, but Nic (Batum) hit one, and I think the flood gates really opened."

The flood gates stayed open, too.

The Blazers hit 16 three-pointers on the night becoming the first team in NBA history to have three straight games of at least 16 made threes.

The Knicks, who came into the game as the worst team in the league at defending the three point line, seemed a step slow on the perimeter as the Blazers zipped the ball around the arc generating open look after open look.

"That's our thing, that's our game. We've had a crazy long streak of 20-plus assists. That's the kind of team that we are," Matthews said. "The ball is moving, flying around and we're getting rhythm shots. I think for the most part I probably took the worst ones. They were all good looks."

Batum knocked down his first three shots from behind the arc marking the first time all season he's made more than two threes in a game. He wore a large brace on his injured right wrist, but still put together his best offensive game of the season.

"The thing is, my wrist was sore and painful before the game and I got four threes in one half. Why? I don't know," said Batum, who finished with a season high five three pointers.