Tonight, the New York Knicks (17-7) appeared at Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors (15-11) for the knockout round of the NBA Cup tourney. Both teams stumbled early, and although the visitors
shot efficiently through the first quarter (a season-high 20 points for Jalen Brunson), six turnovers allowed Toronto to take a 39–35 lead into the second. From there, the Knicks locked in defensively and won the next frame by 21 points for a 69-52 halftime lead. After the break, the hits kept coming, with the lead reaching 24 before Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead managed to snip a little off the top. Up 94-79 heading into the fourth, the Knicks coasted to the end, handing Toronto their fourth straight loss, 117-101.
We were disappointed to not see OAKAAKUYOAKs Immanuel Quickley (illness) and RJ Barrett (knee). Then again, the Dinos are kind of an empty shell without them. Against a subpar squad, all Knicks starters scored in double-digits. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 35 points on a stellar shooting night (13-of-19 FG, 6-of-9 3PT), four assists, and a block in 35 minutes. Following his Roommate’s lead, Josh Hart continues to play the finest basketball of his career, with 21 points, six boards, four assists, and two blocks, while shooting 8-of-11 FG, 4-of-7 from deep.
Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby scored 15, 14, and 13, respectively. KAT added 16 rebounds. That trio might have shot a wobbly 5-of-16 from deep, but they also combined for five steals, five blocks, and 27 rebounds. Whatchu complaining about?!
Toronto shot under 30% from the perimeter when these teams clashed last week; this time, they made 29%. Brandon Ingram scored 31, and sophomore Jamal Shead played well (offensively, at least), scoring 18 points and eight assists. Scottie Barnes was a bust, though, scoring 13 points on 6-of-18 from the field, 1-of-6 from deep, and logging a team-low -20.
The Orlando Magic beat the Heat in the first game on tonight’s slate, setting up a showdown with the Knicks in Las Vegas on Saturday.
First Half
Are NBA Cup nerves a thing? Maybe so. Toronto’s Ingram committed a backcourt violation to open gameplay, and then New York coughed up the rock thrice in three minutes. Both seemed to portend a slopfest.
Mike Brown started with Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Anunoby, and Towns. The latter is dealing with a calf issue, and perhaps that’s to blame for a sorry start that included a turnover and two offensive fouls in five minutes. KAT’s infractions triggered a Mitchell Robinson substitution before the seven-minute mark. Coincidentally, the Raps were on a 7-0 run to go ahead 15-11. Brown needed a timeout, after which he replaced Anunoby with Clarkson, who promptly bricked two free throws.
After Brunson hit a trey, Ingram—whose release point is about 10 feet in the air—easily buried a longball over Jalen’s reach at the other end. We don’t love him for his defense, though. His scoring Cap was scorching the court, burning the nets, and he racked up 20 points in his 12 minutes. That was the most he’d scored in a first quarter this season.
The Knicks shot better than the Raptors (65% to 58%), but six turnovers and a few missed rebounds let the home team take six more shots and a 39-35 lead.
As usual, Kolek subbed for Brunson to start the second, and once again the youngster performed admirably while the captain rested (a field goal, a steal, and a +10 in his five minutes). Meanwhile, Towns shaped up, punishing the opposing frontcourt with relentless rebounds and slammin’ jams, and OG Anunoby had a monster quarter, too, with two steals, two blocks, and a dunk.
Here’s KAT:
And here’s OG:
Long story short: New York played tighter defense and kept shooting well, and Toronto did neither. Watching his team fall behind by 11 points, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic resorted to the Hack-a-Mitch strategy in the deep end of the quarter. Robinson made 1-of-4 before the Knicks intentionally fouled to bring KAT back in. After that, in the final three minutes of the quarter, the difference reached 18 points. At the quarter’s close, New York had outscored the Maple Leafs 34-13 and took a 69-52 lead into halftime.
Through one half, the Knicks had shot 61% from the field, won the glass 28-17, and punished Toronto 32–22 in the paint. The home team couldn’t convert from deep (5-of-19, 26%), and New York’s defense (seven steals, four blocks) had Las Vegas written all over it. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 26 on 10-of-12 shooting, while Brandon Ingram had tallied 19 points on 6-of-10.
Second Half
Josh Hart swished two three-pointers, made a layup, and added a free-throw, scoring nine of the Knicks’ 12 points to start the third frame. Barely breaking a sweat, the Knicks’ lead inched up to 24 just past the 10-minute mark. From there, Ingram hit a couple, and Jamal Shead hit a triple while New York missed a few and gave the ball away. The Raptors were clawing their way back. When Barnes grabbed a rebound, made a jumper, and picked Brunson’s pocket, his team had knocked four points off an 18-point deficit.
Over the next four minutes, to close out the quarter, Shead tried to win his team into a comeback, but Jordan Clarkson dropped eight points, and New York still sat pretty, 94-79, rolling into the fourth frame.
You like ball movement? We like ball movement!
Entering the game, the Knicks were undefeated this season when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. So they shall remain. Rajakovic’s club played full-court defense for a while in the fourth, and it allowed them to chip at the lead. But while they harassed Brunson, that just meant more opportunities for Bridges.
At the four-minute mark, our heroes were ahead by 15. Bridges missed on a 23-footer, but Clarkson grabbed an offensive rebound, Bridges made good with a second chance, and an 18-point advantage with three minutes left against an ineffective Raptors club seemed preeetty secure. And so it was. Both sides emptied their benches; Kevin McCullar, Jr. made the most of his minute of play, sinking a triple; and the Knicks punched their ticket to Vegas for the first appearance in a Cup semifinal game.
Up Next
On to Vegas. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
