The Toronto Raptors (14-7) had a tough night yesterday, with an overtime loss to the Hornets that snapped their nine-game win streak. Less than 24 hours later, they took the court in NYC to face the New York Knicks (13-6). Even with fatigue, travel, and missing RJ Barrett, we expected more from the Canadian Club.
Toronto entered as the league’s best three-point defense, but the Knicks blasted out to a 41–22 lead behind 9-of-14 shooting from deep and crushing the glass. Their hot hand cooled in the second (when New York went 2-for-14 and watched Scottie Barnes lead a 22–3 Raptors run), but after letting their rivals briefly creep within three post-intermission, the Knicks hit the gas, won the half 57-42, and coasted to a 116-96 victory.
The Knicks got balanced production across the board, but the story of the night was how thoroughly their core starters dominated the Raps. Josh Hart was the engine—20 points on 8-for-12 shooting (4-of-7 from deep), 12 boards, seven dimes, three steals, and a +24 in 35 minutes. Another do-it-all masterpiece.
Mikal Bridges added 19 points and elite two-way play (+22), while Jalen Brunson (18 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, +25) was his usual steady self. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 22 points, eight boards, in what was largely a ho-hum game sprinkled with some stunning highlights.
Fellow starter, Miles McBride, roasted the Raps in the first half and finished with 14 on 5-of-11 FG, 4-8 3PT. Off the bench, Mitchell Robinson dominated with 15 (fifteen) rebounds (seven offensive) and a +17 in just 17 minutes; Jordan Clarkson supplied decent bench support (13 points in 21 minutes); and Tyler Kolek had a few terrific sequences (six points, three dimes, two steals, 14 min.)
Toronto’s starters never found a foothold. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram were held to 18 and 14 points respectively and combined for eight turnovers, while Immanuel Quickley needed 17 shots for his 19 points. Their bench offered flashes—Sandro Mamukelashvili’s nine points and seven boards, and Collin Murray-Boyles’ 11-and-8. But the Raptors shot just 30% from three, committed 18 turnovers, and were crushed 61–40 on the glass.
Toronto is the NBA’s top three-point defending team, limiting opponents to 31.8% beyond the arc. Deuce McBride saw this on the scouting report and ripped that paper up. McBride benefited significantly when Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett were traded to Toronto in December of 2023, and he threw flames from deep to start this evening’s game, scoring 12 of the Knicks’ first 17 points.
Toronto’s also pretty good at limiting opponents’ rebounds (10th in the league), but New York said Nahhh to that, too, out-boarding them 2:1 through the first frame. Before we knew it, the Knicks were up by 21 points with under a minute left in the frame, and by the buzzer, they were ahead 41-22. As a team, they had made 9-of-14 from deep, with appearances by McBride, Brunson, Bridges, Yabusele, and Clarkson. (KAT tried twice, but couldn’t get into the club.)
The visitors had shot 1-of-8 (14%) from deep and 9-of-24 from the field. Neither shooting—the Knicks’ hot and Toronto’s not—seemed likely to continue through all four quarters, but for now we were tentatively giddy.
In the opening minutes of the second quarter, New York’s lead reached 24, but remember that hot first-quarter shooting? It wasn’t sustainable, and they made just 2-of-14 from the deep in Q2. When Scottie Barnes hit three consecutive treys, he kicked off a 22-3 Toronto run, during which they out-hustled a mix of Knicks starters and subs. After ruling the glass in the first frame, New York’s frontcourt wilted in the second. Nothing went right for our heroes, including Mitchell Robinson bricking a dunk thanks to Sandro Mamukelashvili standing tall.
Remember when Sandro, with the Spurs, torched the Knicks for 34 points in March, shooting 13-of-14 from the field, and a perfect seven from deep? Game of that dude’s life. His eight first-half points tonight stirred up some Mamukelashvili PTSD.
Never fear, Knicks fans. The Tyler Kolek origin story is just beginning . . . check out this sequence. He’s in the right position for the putback, then snatches back-to-back steals. Maybe his defense isn’t a problem anymore?
New York balanced things out to end the quarter and hold onto a 59-52 edge at intermission. They were lucky that Toronto had hit just 5-of-15 from deep in the half, but the Raps had won the paint 28-18 so far, and won the glass in the second quarter, 13-11. Scottie Barnes was finding his rhythm, and his 16 points made him the only Canadian with double-digits. McBride led the way for the ‘Bockers with 14 points, and Brunson added 12. Just five points for Towns so far. . . .
For a few seasons at MSG, Quickley was a sparkplug whose energy and streaky shooting could swing games for the Knicks. Now, he does it for a different team, in an entirely different country. It can be bittersweet to witness, like tonight, when his three triples help cut the differential to three points by the seven-minute mark. Quick scored 11 of his 19 points in the third period.
After the game got that close, the home team outscored the Raps 16-1, including back-to-back threes and a midrange jumper from Hart, and another pick-six steal by Bridges. Toronto may be the better defensive team statistically, but tonight, by late in the third, New York had nine steals to their three—two apiece for Bridges, McBride, and Kolek, and three by Hart.
In addition to all those steals and harassments and deflections, Hart had already reached a 20-12 double-double and seven dimes with 12 minutes of gameplay remaining. Shame on us for ever doubting him. His—and Bridges’—defense set the tone for the latter half of the third quarter, and by the buzzer they were up, 93-77.
Toronto’s ninth pick in this summer’s draft, Collin Murray-Boyles, scored 11 points by pressing the paint, went 5-for-6 from the field, and missed one three. He also had a steal, two personal fouls, and three turnovers. The rook showed an ability to score and crash the boards, but those turnovers and fouls are indicative of his age.
With four quick points, New York was ahead by 20. In response, Ingram (a 31% long-range shooter) answered with two triples. For the Knicks, though, that KAT-Kolek Konnection was in full swing with two of these beauties.
NY’s lead returned to 23 with seven minutes left. Toronto kept chipping away with scattered threes and second-chance opportunities, but New York repeatedly steadied things with Towns buckets, Robinson put-backs, and more defensive rebounds. By the seven-minute mark, NY was ahead by 23 again. The villains had a brief surge behind Ingram and Walter, yet their momentum kept stalling with missed threes and turnovers. The cushion was 106-88 with six minutes left, and Toronto was too outmatched to mount a real rally. Coach Darko knew it, too, and emptied his bench. And I predicted a three-point loss. Ha! What a dunce!
Heading to Boston to face the Celtics on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
