Knicks 112, Raptors 98: Scenes from a that’s-more-like-it second half

OG Anunoby scores 27 against his former team, with double-double support from Towns and Hart.

After losing three straight for the first time this season, the New York Knicks (25-13) hosted a Toronto Raptors team with only eight wins. Would the club with championship aspirations breeze by a team that won only one of their last ten games?

Victory was not assured from the start. Former ‘Bockers RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley accounted for the first seven Raptors points. That gave the visitors a brief lead until Jalen Brunson led a run to catch and overtake them. Jalen would finish the night with 13 points and seven assists. He shot 26% from deep over the past 10 games. True to form, he hit 1-of-4 three-pointers against the Canadians.

Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns, a game-time decision due to knee soreness, limped after a dunk midway through the first frame. A timeout came soon after, but following that, Towns returned to duty. Jericho Sims looked on from the most expensive seats in the house and appeared only during garbage time. We sure hope Karl’s healthy for Friday’s game against the Thunder!

Around then, Josh Hart knocked hips with Jakob Poeltl. Hart retreated to the locker room but returned before the quarter’s end to see the Knicks go ahead, 28-24. During Q2, Towns and Hart hit the floor on drives and persevered through apparent pain. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors on an 11-3 run to nip at the Knicks’ heels. Towns answered with 11 second-quarter points, however, to put the homeboys up 55-51 at halftime (despite the team’s 10 turnovers). On the night, Karl would finish with 27 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and two assists and blocks. He shot 9-of-14 from the field, and it all three-point attempts in his 34 minutes.

Despite his pain, Hart shot well, converting his first five attempts. Fellow wing, OG Anunoby, shot 34% from deep over the previous 10 games; tonight he hit 3-of-4 from yard in the first half and finished the game 4-of-6 with 27 points (his third-highest total this season). Seems to enjoy sticking it to his old team. Here’s one of his close-range buckets.

Through the half, both sides had nearly identical numbers for shooting percentages, rebounds, assists, points in the paint, turnovers, free throws, fastbreak points, steals, and fouls. So much for dominating cellar dwellers.

In the third quarter, the Knicks mounted a 22-11 run to claim a 15-point advantage. For the Knicks Mikal Bridges unloaded a slew of three-point attempts this evening, going 2-of-11 from downtown and amassing 10 points. For Toronto, Barrett (16 points, five rebounds) and Quickley (22 points, five assists) tried to keep up but were on the wrong end of an 86-76 score by the break.

By halfway through the final frame, the Garden faithful saw the Knicks rattle off a 14-0 run and pull ahead by 25. Josh Hart, recovered from his first quarter collision, added to his total, finishing with a 21-point, 11-board double-double, and a season-high six offensive boards. With about three minutes left and the Knicks up by 26, Thibs relented and emptied the bench, deploying Tyler Kolek, Jacob Toppin, Landry Shamet, Matt Ryan, and Jericho Sims. They surrendered 12 points, but that came too late for the Dinos. Final score, 112-98.

Up Next

Professor Miranda has your recap. The Thunder visit on Friday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.

Box Score