Streak snapped. New York is back in the win column.
And just in time, because things are about to heat up at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are set to host six straight teams projected to qualify for the playoffs, a grueling stretch that will test their depth.
The Toronto Raptors aren’t a playoff-bound group and the Knicks handled them accordingly, pulling away in the second half for a 112-98 victory at home on Wednesday night.
This win was necessary — and expected. Of the Knicks’ 19 victories in their 23-game tear leading into the New Year, 12 came against lottery-bound teams and three against an Orlando Magic squad progressively weakened by injuries with each matchup.
Wednesday’s win improved the Knicks to an impressive 13-3 against teams not contending for a playoff spot. Against playoff-bound or Play-In hopeful teams, however, their record sits at a more modest 12-10.
The stakes will only rise from here. The Knicks won’t see another lottery team until Jan. 21, when they travel across the bridge to face the Brooklyn Nets. Until then, they’ll endure a punishing slate of playoff-caliber opponents, including:
- A rematch with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- A showdown with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
- A gritty battle against the .500 Detroit Pistons.
- A visit to Philadelphia to face Joel Embiid and the 76ers.
- Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo’s return to The Garden with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- And a highly anticipated rematch with Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who eliminated the Knicks from the NBA Cup quarterfinal, complete with Young’s infamous dice-rolling celebration at center court.
After Brooklyn, the Knicks face an equally daunting schedule: Sacramento, Memphis, Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, and a rematch with the Raptors in Toronto. Then come more tests: the reigning champion Boston Celtics, a road matchup against the Indiana Pacers, and another showdown with the Hawks leading into the All-Star break.
That’s 14 of the next 16 games against teams with playoff aspirations.
Which made Wednesday’s win against the Raptors — especially after a three-game skid to Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Orlando — a non-negotiable victory.
And the Knicks delivered.
Toronto’s young core of Scottie Barnes, R.J. Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley made things interesting, but they couldn’t match the firepower of a Knicks starting five determined to push this team to the NBA Finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were unstoppable, each scoring 27 points to power the Knicks’ offense. Anunoby, playing against his former team, shot a blistering 8-of-13 from the field and 4-of-6 from deep, while Towns looked fresh in his return after missing Monday’s loss to the Magic with right knee tendinopathy.
Barrett scored 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Quickley added 22 points on 7-of-12 from the field, while Barnes contributed a balanced line of 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Josh Hart was everywhere, finishing with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Jalen Brunson chipped in 13 points and 7 assists, orchestrating the offense with his usual poise.
The game was well in hand by the fourth quarter, allowing head coach Tom Thibodeau to empty his bench with three minutes remaining — a rare luxury for a team whose starters have logged heavy minutes in recent games.
Those three minutes of rest were a welcome reprieve for a starting five that has carried the load through a grueling stretch. But they’ll need much more to prepare for their next challenge: a rematch with the West’s top-seeded Thunder on Friday night.
For now, the Knicks are back on track, but their resolve will be tested as they navigate this brutal gauntlet of playoff-caliber opponents. The margin for error is slim, and how they respond could have implications on end-of-the-season seeding.
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