All aboard the Knicks Categorical. The practice simply retains rolling at Penn Station.
The Knicks picked up their 14th win within the final 18 video games with a dominant wire-to-wire 139-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday evening, extending their profitable streak to 4 video games.
With Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs set to go to Madison Sq. Backyard for a Christmas Day matinee, the Knicks now have a shot at their longest win streak of the season.
They need to be well-rested. The starters basically acquired a half-day, with the sport all however determined halfway by means of the second quarter.
The Raptors tried to neutralize Jalen Brunson, however the Knicks’ All-Star guard adjusted seamlessly, facilitating for his teammates as a substitute of forcing the problem. Regardless of scoring simply 12 factors—tying his lowest output since a seven-point efficiency in opposition to the Clippers in Nov. 2023—Brunson’s selflessness unlocked the Knicks’ offense, even when he solely scored one level within the opening interval.
“He’s one of the best point guards in the world, so for us as a young team to come over here and learn against that type of player, it’s amazing,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković stated earlier than the sport, reflecting on Brunson’s earlier 20-point, 11-assist outing in Toronto. “He’s such a smart player. He’s really trying to make the right play for the team.”
That unselfishness paid off.
Karl-Anthony Cities and OG Anunoby led the way in which with 31 factors every, whereas Cameron Payne added a season-high 19 factors off the bench, fueled by a barrage of three-pointers within the second quarter.
The Knicks held a slim 30-28 lead after the primary quarter and located themselves tied 32-32 early within the second.
Then they hit the gasoline.
A 16-2 run, spearheaded by Payne’s 11 factors within the interval, broke the sport open. The Knicks outscored the Raptors 40-24 within the second quarter and 31-18 within the third, constructing a commanding 29-point lead heading into the ultimate interval.
The Raptors by no means recovered.
But the sport held extra significance for sentimental causes given the mammoth commerce intertwining the 2 groups’ futures.
Followers exterior the customer’s tunnel greeted former Knicks first-round choose R.J. Barrett with cheers and even a playful nickname—“Star-J”—as he took the ground at MSG for the second time as a Raptor. Barrett delivered a powerful efficiency, ending with 23 factors, six rebounds, and 6 assists on 7-of-13 taking pictures, however watched a big chunk of the fourth quarter from the bench.
“More expanded role. There were a bunch of games where he was our starting point guard when Scottie Barnes was out,” Rajakovic stated forward of tipoff. “When [Immanuel] Quickley did not play, we gave the ball to him, and that really expands his game. He’s learning a lot. He’s learning how to deal with that, how to play-make. I think he already had two or three games with triple-doubles this year. He’s improving his rebounding. There is obvious growth there as well. Now it’s for him and everyone else to start putting all those things together.”
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Barrett’s improvement post-trade.
“He’s a terrific person, so it doesn’t surprise me, just the way he’s worked his entire career. If you’ve followed his progress from Duke to the pros, each year he’s gotten a lot better. And he’s excelled in Toronto,” he stated. “He’s doing a number of things really well. He continues to get better and better, and that’s not surprising at all. So the play-making, shooting the ball, just playing an all around game — he’s done a really good job.”
Immanuel Quickley, additionally included within the commerce that despatched Anunoby to the Knicks, missed Monday’s sport as he continues to get better from an elbow harm. Regardless of showing in solely three video games this season, Quickley’s potential stays central to the Raptors’ long-term plans. The group signed him to a five-year, $175 million extension.
“I think he’s a great fit for us. Obviously his three-point shooting and ability to shoot on the dribble on the move and his scorer’s mentality is really, really good,” stated Rajakovic. “And at the same time I think he is really underestimated as a playmaker. He is an unselfish player in my time in the NBA over the past 10 plus years, he probably is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. He really puts a lot of work in. He’s very intentional about his work. He wants to be great, and I think he’s a great fit for us.”
Seven of the Knicks’ eight rotation gamers scored in double figures. Treasured Achiuwa made an affect in opposition to his former group with 5 factors, seven rebounds, and contributions throughout the defensive stat sheet.
Newly re-signed Landry Shamet, who joined the Knicks on Sunday, checked into the sport with 90 seconds left within the fourth quarter and made a 3 for his first regular-season factors in orange and blue.
They may want him, perhaps not for Wednesday’s matchup in opposition to Wembanyama’s Spurs, however for the deep playoff run they’re positioning themselves for with each win racked this season.
