Brunson pours in 26 points as Knicks top Raptors 111-95, extending their dominance over Toronto to a 12-game streak
But here’s where the story gets interesting: New York didn’t just win, they ran away with it, leveraging a balanced attack and better ball handling to keep the pressure on the Raptors throughout the night.
Key figures and flow
- Jalen Brunson starred with 26 points and 10 assists, showing his playmaking and scoring efficiency.
- Karl-Anthony Towns added a solid 21 points and 12 rebounds, delivering a double-double performance to help anchor the Knicks.
- New York’s win streak against Toronto now sits at 12 games, a remarkable run dating back to January 2023 when the Raptors last beat the Knicks in Toronto (125-116).
- OG Anunoby contributed 15 points for Toronto, while Landry Shamet and Josh Hart each notched 12 points, and Mikal Bridges added 11 for New York.
Other notable numbers
- The Knicks improved to 40-22 on the season, becoming the third Eastern Conference team to reach 40 wins, joining Detroit and Boston.
- Toronto’s Brandon Ingram scored 31 points and RJ Barrett added 20 for the Raptors, who also dropped to 4-10 against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Scottie Barnes registered 14 points for Toronto; Immanuel Quickley had 13 points and 12 assists for New York.
- Turnovers shaped the game: New York committed 17, leading to 22 points for Toronto, while the Raptors were sloppy with 15 miscues that resulted in 17 points for the Knicks.
- The Knicks’ bench outplayed Toronto’s reserves 26-8, providing a crucial spark.
First-half and momentum
- Ingram was on fire early, scoring 16 in the opening quarter, a figure that outpaced the rest of Toronto’s lineup in that stretch as the Raptors led 25-15 with 4:13 left in the first. However, New York surged to lead 68-58 at halftime.
- Toronto opened strong from three, hitting their first three attempts from beyond the arc, but cooled dramatically afterward, finishing 5-for-25 from distance for the game.
What it means going forward
- Toronto (35-26) continues to struggle with allowing 110 or more points, now 24th time this season in such a scenario.
- The Knicks now turn their attention to a home matchup against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, while Toronto heads to Minnesota on Thursday.
Final thought
- This win underscores New York’s depth and resilience, plus their historical edge over the Raptors, a rivalry that hasn’t swung Toronto’s way in years. Do you think Toronto’s performance against Atlantic rivals is a bigger concern than their overall record suggests, or is this simply a blip amid a competitive Eastern Conference landscape?
