Start spreading the news, the Knicks are back in Town with a big win
The New York Knicks secured a dominant 116-94 win over the Toronto Raptors, improving their regular-season record to 13-6 and 10-1 at Madison Square Garden.
New York was able to get off to a hot start in the first quarter, putting up 41 points in the opening 12 minutes, 12 of which came solely from Miles McBride. He would knock down four three-pointers in the opening minutes of the game, contributing to the team’s 16 total for the game. But the momentum didn’t stop at McBride.
Jordan Clarkson would log 13 points off the bench, while Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges would combine for 32 points. Bridges would continue to show off his immaculate defense, recording two steals and two blocks, making him the sole leader in total blocks league-wide. Josh Hart managed to have yet another spectacular night, putting up 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, yet again flirting with a triple-double.
“He didn’t really play in the preseason, and he didn’t really practice either,” head coach Mike Brown said about Josh Hart. “Hart was big on the sacrifice and the belief in the process. He's a special player, but he's also a great human being to be around.”
Rebounding and Astounding
Perhaps the biggest x-factor on the night was Mitchell Robinson, who grabbed 15 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass, in just 17 minutes of action. Robinson would contribute to a season-high 61 team rebounds and 25 offensive boards.
“25 offensive rebounds, 22 second chance points, that's who we are, and we have to continue attacking the glass relentlessly, because we get second opportunities which turn into points, a lot of points for us,” head coach Mike Brown said postgame.
The Knicks would have stretches throughout the game where the offense looked hot, before letting their guard down and allowing Toronto to come back. On a night without Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, the Raptors had to get creative in finding ways to attack both the rebounding and scoring categories.
Momentum Shifts In The Right Direction
Having received a win in what many believed to be a preview of their NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup, the Knicks now move to second in the Eastern Conference. Momentum has never appeared dull for this team, one that thrives on competitiveness and giving the fans a show worthy of their admission.
The Knicks will look to keep the ball rolling into Boston on Tuesday night, as they plan to string together their fifth straight win in a row.