Knicks stave off furious Raptors comeback for 7th win in last 8 games

Seven retired of 8 isn’t excessively atrocious aft all.

The Knicks made it 2 successful a enactment aft Saturday’s nonaccomplishment to the Los Angeles Lakers by delivering a 121-115 triumph implicit the Toronto Raptors connected Tuesday.

The Knicks person present completed the play expanse against Toronto winning each 4 matchups against their Atlantic Division rival this season.

Jalen Brunson finished with a team-high 28 points connected 10-of-21 shooting, and Karl-Anthony Towns erupted for a 27-point, 20-rebound performance, arsenic the Knicks improved to a 34-17 grounds connected the season.

Raptors guardant Scottie Barnes finished with a team-high 23 points connected 8-of-23 shooting from the field, and Toronto trailed by 23 earlier mounting a ferocious late-game comeback.

The Raptors chopped New York’s pb to 1 earlier Brunson scored 5 consecutive points to support Toronto astatine bay.

“I thought we played good successful the archetypal half, had the large lead, and past we didn’t person the aforesaid strength defensively to commencement the third. They caught america with immoderate threes, made up immoderate crushed quickly,” said Tom Thibodeau. “I thought the [hustle points’ were the quality successful the game. You request casual baskets, whether they travel successful transition.”

Starting Knicks guardant OG Anunoby missed his 2nd consecutive crippled with a close ft sprain, and guardant Precious Achiuwa started successful his spot against his erstwhile team. Achiuwa finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.

Knicks rookie Ariel Hukporti besides saw extended play clip for the 2nd crippled successful a enactment and finished with six points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists successful 19 minutes connected Tuesday. Hukporti’s teammates were complimentary of his show successful Monday’s triumph against the Houston Rockets.

“[I saw] large energy. I deliberation that was the biggest thing. Obviously, he’s young, and the travel of the crippled is antithetic than what he’s utilized to, but helium gave america large energy, bully minutes,” seasoned teammate Josh Hart said aft the game. Hart was speedy to enactment Hukporti was portion of New York’s efforts to reciprocate Houston’s carnal benignant of play with Hukporti finishing with 4 fouls to spell with his 2 rebounds and a artifact successful 8 minutes connected Monday: “He utilized his fouls. He’s got six of ‘em, truthful helium was making definite helium was gonna usage him. But large vigor from him.”

Knicks caput manager Tom Thibodeau besides often utilized Hukporti successful minutes alongside Towns. The determination was viewed arsenic strategical to get Towns prepared for minutes alongside Mitchell Robinson, who is expected to marque his play debut aft recovering from a accent fracture successful his near ankle past season.

The Raptors did not person R.J. Barrett, who missed Tuesday’s matchup successful concussion protocol. Former Knicks defender Immanuel Quickley played 21 minutes and finished with conscionable 9 points and 5 assists.

The Knicks seat struggled again connected Tuesday, generating conscionable 17 points betwixt Hukporti, Cameron Payne and Miles McBride. For Toronto, Jamal Shead scored 16 points, Kelly Olynyk added 11, and the full Raptors seat tallied 51 points against the Knicks.

The Knicks present get 3 days of remainder earlier Saturday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics. They person 3 much games (Boston, Indiana and Atlanta) earlier the Feb. 13-19 NBA All-Star Break.

New York is expected to signifier astatine slightest 1 of those 3 days, though the Feb. 6 NBA Trade Deadline could complicate matters.

The Knicks are expected to actively store Jericho Sims for backup halfway assistance down Towns and Robinson up of the deadline.