Knicks Dominate Raptors in 116-94 Victory
The New York Knicks showcased a dominant performance against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, ultimately securing a 116-94 victory. The game kicked off with the Knicks racing to an impressive 24-point lead early on, but they encountered challenges during a lackluster second quarter before regrouping to extend their advantage.
Key Players Shine
Third-year player Miles McBride, making his seventh start of the season, was instrumental right from the beginning. He buried four three-pointers in the opening five minutes, which contributed to the Knicks’ early lead. Remarkably, after those shots, McBride had an impressive streak, making 14 of his last 17 attempts from beyond the arc. Jalen Brunson also got into the action, adding his own three-pointer and scoring inside, while Josh Hart capitalized on an open shot to finish with a thunderous dunk. By the end of the first quarter, the Knicks led by a significant margin of 41-22, having shot 64% from three-point range.
Second Quarter Struggles
As the second quarter began, Tyler Kolek made his presence felt, collecting an offensive rebound, scoring, and even securing a steal. Hart continued the trend of successful shooting with the team’s tenth three-pointer. However, the Raptors responded with a series of three shots from Scottie Barnes, which sparked a run that closed the gap to just 10 points. After a timeout from Knicks coach Mike Brown, the Knicks managed to regain their footing. Despite another late challenge from the Raptors, who finished the quarter strong, the Knicks ended the half with a 59-52 lead. McBride finished the half as the team’s leading scorer with 14 points, while Barnes led Toronto with 16 points.
Strong Finish
In the third quarter, former Knick Immanuel Quickly managed to score five quick points for Toronto, but Brunson swiftly retaliated with an and-one layup. Quickly continued to shine, hitting two more three-pointers to tighten the gap to just five points. Yet Hart answered back with eight consecutive points, including two three-pointers, pulling the Knicks away further. A fastbreak dunk by Mikal Bridges energized the team, pushing the Knicks’ lead to 84-68.
Game MVP and Next Steps
In the final quarter, the Raptors kept pressure on the Knicks via big plays from Clarkson and Towns, but New York maintained control. Towns hit his first successful three-pointer of the night, extending New York’s margin to 23 points, which ultimately contributed to their comfortable win. The Knicks’ performance on the boards was particularly noteworthy, as they dominated the glass with a 61-40 advantage and collected 25 offensive rebounds.
Josh Hart was distinguished as the game’s MVP, energizing the team with 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. The Knicks, now holding a 10-1 record at home, are set to continue their campaign against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m.
