Knicks 145, Raptors 101: Deuce McBride hits a new career-high of three-pointers, Jalen Brunson adds 26, and Mighty Mitch returns in another wire-to-wire win.
On Wednesday night, the New York Knicks (44-28) faced off against a depleted Toronto Raptors (23-50) squad at the Scotiabank Arena. These aren’t the Kawhi Leonard-led, champion Raptors of a few years ago. Tonight the Canadians played without Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl, and the game looked more like a practice scrimmage than an NBA contest.
In the first half, Mitchell Robinson made a mighty return, contributing defensively and offensively, while Miles McBride led the New York Knicks with a searing shooting performance, scoring 20 points. By intermission, New York had scored 80 points, their highest first-half total of the season. Overall, the Knicks would hit 22-of-44 from downtown, the second-most in franchise history (24 on 10/22/21). Their lead would reach 44 points—their biggest of the season—in the second half as they breezed to a 145-101 win.
Cleveland lost to the Charlotte Hornets, so tonight’s win gives New York sole possession of third place in the East. Huzzah! New York has logged 13 wire-to-wire victories this season, the most in the NBA. McBride led all scorers with 29 points, seven assists, and a new career-best of nine three-pointers. He had a plus-minus of +40 (!). Jalen Brunson added 26 points and seven assists. From the bench, Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 18 bench points and Precious Achiuwa flexed with 19 points and 13 boards (seven offensive).
As for New York’s centers, Isaiah Hartenstein collected 15 points, four boards, and two stocks in 19 minutes; Robinson logged eight points, two boards, and two blocks in his 12 minutes. Is there a better center tandem in the league? Nyet!
First Half
Holy smokes! Deuce McBride was Johnny Flame from downtown, hitting 6-of-8 in the first period. With little resistance, New York jumped out to a 17-point lead.
️DEUCEEE
3/3 from deep pic.twitter.com/QtL9RZvYbn
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 27, 2024
At the five-minute mark, Mitchell Robinson checked in for Isaiah Hartenstein. In his first game since December 8, Mitch showed no signs of favoring his surgically repaired ankle through the first quarter. He blocked one shot, grabbed an offensive rebound, and scored two easy buckets at the rim. The Blockness Monster is back, folks!
Mitch is BACK! pic.twitter.com/jzcbzKrN1E
— Knicks Fan TV (@KnicksFanTv) March 28, 2024
The Knicks poured on the points to win the first quarter 45-33. In the second, a pair of Toronto triples brought them within 10 points, before an 11-0 run gave New York 60 points and a 21-point lead with 7:30 left in the half. By intermission, they had run up the score to 80-59. That’s the most they’ve scored in a first half this season, beating their previous best of 75 (Jan. 5 in Philly).
Seriously folks, Hartenstein and Robinson give the Knicks the league’s best 1-2 punch at the center position. My goodness, here’s more Mitch goodness.
The Knicks, who have posted the best Defensive Rating in the NBA in March, just added a backup big who was a legit DPOY candidate in December – who they can casually bring off the bench lol pic.twitter.com/TtlpBcR7Og
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 28, 2024
In the first half, the visitors had outshot the home team 61% to 54% from the floor. Both teams had hit 50% of their longballs: Knicks 12, Raptors eight. The ‘Bockers had outrebounded the Raps, 23-10, and had swatted five blocks.
McBride led all scorers with 20 first-half points on 7-of-12 shooting, and Jalen Brunson was close behind with 17. For Toronto, rookie Gradey Dick led the way with 15 points and no rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, or fouls in 17 minutes. What a statline!
Second Half
Neither team offered much defense to start the second half. There was more Dick action on Toronto’s end as the rookie set a new career-high, while Deuce converted his seventh triple, a new career-best. Impossibly, the Knicks had 90 points before they’d crossed the median of the third frame.
Not to be overlooked, Jalen Brunson kept rolling. He swishes a casual trey in the following clip. A few minutes later, Brunson would draw his 29th charge of the season, second-most in the NBA. New York was up by 24 points, but he still stepped in front of a freight train to draw the offensive foul. Toughest point guard in the NBA.
the man can score from anywhere pic.twitter.com/y6h85O2tFG
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 28, 2024
New York entered the final frame with a 111-80 lead. Shake Milton checked in early. The Raptors scored six unanswered points and were still behind by 30. Even with that lopsided score, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau called a timeout to chastise his team for a few lackluster defensive sequences. Knicks basketball—there’s nothing like it.
PRECIOUS ACHIUWA POSTER pic.twitter.com/pDiUHw1QSN
— Knicks Highlights (@KnicksClipss) March 28, 2024
Up Next
On to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Friday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.