Trail Blazers work through sting of tough loss to Knicks: ‘We just move on from it’

The Portland Trail Blazers returned to practice Friday in good spirits after taking a day off following a heartbreaking 114-113 overtime loss Wednesday night to the New York Knicks at the Moda Center.

“Obviously, it was a tough one,” Blazers center Donovan Clingan said. “We left it all out there. We gave it everything we had, which I feel like is why it hurt a lot, because we did everything we could.”

Knicks forward Mikal Bridges swished a three-point field goal over the 7-foot Clingan’s outstretched hand as time expired.

“He made a tough shot at the perfect time,” Clingan said. “We just move on from it.”

But Bridges' shot still haunts.

“I still think about it,” Clingan said. “But you just look at those plays and you learn from them.”

The Blazers took a much-needed day off Thursday before returning to practice Friday. The team played 10 games in 17 days, including eight on the road and three games in four nights leading up to Wednesday’s loss.

Clingan said the flights, bouncing from hotel to hotel and playing intense games created tired bodies that needed rest and recovery.

“It’s definitely nice to have a couple of days off to rest and practice and focus on the little things,” Clingan said.

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said he was pleased with how the team bounced back from the loss.

“We had a phenomenal day today …,” Billups said. “The energy was great. We talked about a few things, went over some things, put in some things. It was an awesome day.”

The Blazers' play-in hopes in the Western Conference are reeling. They’ve lost six of their last seven games, including five in a row. The Blazers (28-39) sit five games behind 10th-place Dallas (33-32) entering Friday, when the Mavericks play at the Houston Rockets (41-25).

The Blazers host Toronto (23-43) at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Clingan said the team remains hungry to chase down a postseason berth.

“We’re really just locking in,” he said, “working hard to finish the season strong.”

Losses like the one to New York and the team’s 133-129 overtime loss at Cleveland on March 2 hold teachable value.

“They’re really, really good moments to teach from,” Billups said. “It sucks to lose a game that way. But also, sometimes the gravity of losing makes you pay attention a little more.”

Billups explained that had Bridges' shot missed, the Blazers would have felt great about winning, but maybe mistakes made wouldn’t sting as much.

“When you lose, that gravity of that feeling changes you a little bit,” he said. “Not the best, but it definitely presents some great opportunity for you.”

Clingan agreed and said he believed the team grew from Wednesday’s experience. Also, he added that how the team responded during the game and at practice said a lot about the group.

“Tough, tight games, you learn a lot about the team,” he said. “At the end of the game, just how we were competing, how we were fighting, and just everything we’re doing on the court, just showed the amount of fight and will on this team.”

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)