Seven out of eight isn’t too unhealthy in any case.
The Knicks made it two in a row after Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers by delivering a 121-115 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.
The Knicks have now accomplished the season sweep in opposition to Toronto profitable all 4 matchups in opposition to their Atlantic Division rival this season.
Jalen Brunson completed with a team-high 28 factors on 10-of-21 taking pictures, and Karl-Anthony Cities erupted for a 27-point, 20-rebound efficiency, because the Knicks improved to a 34-17 document on the season.
Raptors ahead Scottie Barnes completed with a team-high 23 factors on 8-of-23 taking pictures from the sphere, and Toronto trailed by 23 earlier than mounting a ferocious late-game comeback.
The Raptors reduce New York’s result in one earlier than Brunson scored 5 straight factors to maintain Toronto at bay.
“I thought we played well in the first half, had the big lead, and then we didn’t have the same intensity defensively to start the third. They caught us with some threes, made up some ground quickly,” stated Tom Thibodeau. “I believed the [hustle points’ were the difference in the game. You need easy baskets, whether they come in transition.”
Starting Knicks forward OG Anunoby missed his second consecutive game with a right foot sprain, and forward Precious Achiuwa started in his place against his former team. Achiuwa finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Knicks rookie Ariel Hukporti also saw extended play time for the second game in a row and finished with six points, five rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes on Tuesday. Hukporti’s teammates were complimentary of his performance in Monday’s victory against the Houston Rockets.
“[I saw] nice power. I believe that was the largest factor. Clearly, he’s younger, and the circulation of the sport is completely different than what he’s used to, however he gave us nice power, good minutes,” veteran teammate Josh Hart stated after the sport. Hart was fast to notice Hukporti was a part of New York’s efforts to reciprocate Houston’s bodily type of play with Hukporti ending with 4 fouls to go together with his two rebounds and a block in eight minutes on Monday: “He used his fouls. He’s acquired six of ‘em, so he was making sure he was gonna use him. But great energy from him.”
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau also frequently used Hukporti in minutes alongside Towns. The move was viewed as strategic to get Towns prepared for minutes alongside Mitchell Robinson, who is expected to make his season debut after recovering from a stress fracture in his left ankle last season.
The Raptors did not have R.J. Barrett, who missed Tuesday’s matchup in concussion protocol. Former Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley performed 21 minutes and completed with simply 9 factors and 5 assists.
The Knicks bench struggled once more on Tuesday, producing simply 17 factors between Hukporti, Cameron Payne and Miles McBride. For Toronto, Jamal Shead scored 16 factors, Kelly Olynyk added 11, and the complete Raptors bench tallied 51 factors in opposition to the Knicks.
The Knicks now get three days of relaxation earlier than Saturday’s matchup in opposition to the Boston Celtics. They’ve three extra video games (Boston, Indiana and Atlanta) earlier than the Feb. 13-19 NBA All-Star Break.
New York is predicted to apply a minimum of a kind of three days, although the Feb. 6 NBA Commerce Deadline may complicate issues.
The Knicks are anticipated to actively store Jericho Sims for backup heart assist behind Cities and Robinson forward of the deadline.
