TORONTO – Karl-Anthony Towns made a prominent return after missing a game, contributing significantly with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Jalen Brunson also had an impressive outing, tallying 20 points along with 11 assists as the New York Knicks secured a tight victory over the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 113-108. This win marked the Knicks’ fifth victory in their last six games.
Towns provided the pivotal moment in the match by breaking the tie with a layup just 36 seconds before the final buzzer and then clinching the game with a critical 3-pointer on the subsequent possession.
Mikal Bridges shone brightly as well, contributing 23 points, leading the Knicks to their fifth consecutive victory against the Raptors. OG Anunoby, facing off against his former team, chipped in with 14 points, while Josh Hart added 10 points to the team’s efforts.
The Raptors faced a setback midway through the third quarter when forward Scottie Barnes suffered a sprained right ankle. He was escorted off the court by his teammates and had difficulty bearing weight on his injured foot while moving to the locker room. Earlier in the season, Barnes had been sidelined for 11 games due to a right orbital fracture, and since his return on November 21, he had been using protective eyewear.
In contrast, RJ Barrett delivered an exceptional performance for Toronto, scoring 30 points, while Jakob Poeltl made his mark with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Ja’Kobe Walter, a promising rookie, matched his career-high scoring 14 points in the first half and concluded the game with a total of 19 points.
The game’s turning point came when Barnes was injured while contesting for a defensive rebound against Towns with 6:47 left in the third quarter. At the time of his exit, Barnes had made 15 points in just 23 minutes on the court.
In terms of key statistics, Towns initially struggled with his shooting, hitting only one of his first four attempts from beyond the arc before landing the crucial 3-pointer with only six seconds left on the clock.
As for what’s next, the Knicks are set to host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday for the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the Raptors will face off against the Miami Heat on Thursday.
