Karl-Anthony Towns hit a huge, game-icing 3 with 6 seconds left as the 24-second clock was about to expire — then in celebration pointed out the New York on the front of his uniform to the crowd in Toronto — as NY came away with a 113-108 win over the Raptors on a Monday night.
Thirty seconds earlier, Towns gave the Knicks a 110-108 lead with a drive inside off a Jalen Brunson feed with 36 seconds left, then OG Anunoby blocked RJ Barrett‘s shot inside with 28 seconds left to give NY back the ball.
The Knicks led early by 11 points, but Kelly Olynyk energized a comeback and Toronto took the lead at the half, and held it into the 4th quarter on the strong play of Barrett, who had 30 points on 13-24 shooting (3-7 from 3) with 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
But Jalen Brunson came back from a sprained ankle that kept him out to start the 4th, and hit a 3-and-1 for a 4-pt play and 105-104 Knick lead with 3:03 left. It began a 12-4 NY run to close the game out.
“I think we did a great job of staying connected. Just the emotional intelligence. You gotta get a win for the city.
“I mean we dem boys; we dem boys,” said Karl-Anthony Towns afterwards. I point to that jersey because we put the work in. I know that we’re doing everything possible to give ourselves a chance to win every night and put on for the city. I’m just real happy — I ain’t going to lie — I’m happy to win here; I haven’t won here in a long ass time, so I’m just happy to put one in the left column here.”
NY improves to 15-9; Toronto falls to 7-18.
1. NY Takes 11-Point Lead Early
The Knicks pulled out to a 34-27 lead at the end of the 1st quarter, and led by 11, at 53-42 midway through the 2nd period.
let’s go 2️⃣5️⃣‼️ pic.twitter.com/Roxbll9Ckh
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 10, 2024
NY was scoring pretty much at will, on the snipping of Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, the strong inside and outside play of Karl-Anthony Towns, and the hustle play of Josh Hart and OG Anunoby.
KAT with two smooth dimes early in Toronto 👀@nyknicks and Raptors, now on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/Q7MhoUwxHJ
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2024
RJ Barrett was doing most of the early scoring for Toronto, although Gradey Dick was being a pain in the ass as usual — hitting some 3’s, and drawing a charge against KAT.
The 2nd team came out at start of the 2nd quarter and continued the attack, with Miles McBride and Cameron Payne hitting 3’s, and Precious Achiuwa playing a strong inside game.
2. Olynyk Energized Toronto Comeback
And then Kelly Olynyk came in and energized Toronto with head’s up play. Every season the Knicks play a team and there is Kelly Olynyk popping up — playing pain-in-the-ass, head’s up basketball he will probably play until he’s 40.
Olynyk grabbed an offensive rebound and scored inside; Olynyk blocked a shot inside by Precious Achiuwa; that led to a Ja’Kobe Walter 3 and Toronto was within 6. NY timeout.
Jakob Poeltl entered for Olynyk and Toronto continued their run on drives by Scottie Barnes, Barrett, and Ochai Agbaji — taking the lead.
13-0 run and the @Raptors are back in front on NBA TV! 🔥
RJ Barrett finishes the break with a tough take! pic.twitter.com/mdgS36uzT2
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2024
3. Barrett with a Strong Game
Toronto maintained a small lead throughout the 3rd quarter on the strong play of RJ Barrett — who continued to pressure the Knick defense by driving to the hoop in transition or in the half court. Knick fans know Barrett LOVES to drive against contact and is very good at it, and he is big for a guard at 6’7 and uses that size.
Jakob Poeltl at 7 feet played a tough inside game and Scottie Barnes was scoring for Toronto as well — until he went out with a sprained ankle midway through the 3rd.
Brunson also went out — late in the quarter — after apparently stepping on a fan’s foot along the sidelines.
4. Brunson 4-Pt Play Ignites Knick Run in 4th
The Knicks tied the game at 88 early in the 4th on a Mikal Bridges 3 — but the Knicks were not able to take control as Toronto snipped back and the lead see-sawed back and forth.
Brunson came back in with 6 minutes left, but Barrett continued to pressure the Knicks with drives to the hoop, and Poeltl, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jonathan Mogbo were hitting big shots.
Davion Mitchell hit a huge 3 to give Toronto a 104-101 lead with 3:30 left and it wasn’t looking great for NY.
But then Brunson hit the HUGE 3-and-1 from straight away for a 105-104 Knick lead with 3:o3 left — fouled by Davion Mitchell.
The 4-PT play from Brunson puts the @nyknicks back in front late!
2 to play in Q4 on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/X3gyAMy0lq
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2024
Mitchell made up for it with a drive to put Toronto back up with 1:57 left, but Mikal Bridges answered with a huge 3 with 1:38 left to give NY a 2-pt lead.
RJ Barrett tied it on a drive with 42 seconds left. Toronto 108 NY 108.
5. Towns & OG Close It Out
That’s when Brunson fed KAT underneath for a 110-108 Knick lead with 36 seconds left.
Clutch dime from Brunson to KAT! pic.twitter.com/digSm130pi
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 10, 2024
On the next play, Toronto got the ball to RJ Barrett, who penetrated the lane, but had his shot BLOCKED by OG Anunoby.
On the other end, with 2 seconds left on the 24 second clock — Karl-Anthony Towns hit the HUGE 3 to put the game away with 6 seconds left — NY 113 Toronto 108.
Karl-Anthony Towns says GOODNIGHT in Toronto! 😴 pic.twitter.com/8a7mKmtxsN
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) December 10, 2024
“Karl Anthony Towns has been making a habit of not just settling and you saw him tonight early on by getting to the rim as defenders close and get to the line and then hit big shots in the 4th,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Also, active on glass, a willing and good passer, defended, competed and credit his motor.”
Toronto called timeout, but the Knicks pressured the ball on Toronto’s inbounds, and forced them into a turnover for the old ballgame.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704925