TITLE: Knicks Roll Past Raptors 117-101, Earn Spot in NBA Cup Semifinals
SLUG: knicks-advance-to-nba-cup-semifinals-after-raptors-win
CONTENT:
TORONTO — The New York Knicks clinched a berth in the NBA Cup semifinals with a 117-101 road win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, marking their eighth victory in the past nine games.
Guard Jalen Brunson provided an early jolt, scoring 20 of his game-high 35 points in the first quarter. His fast start offset foul trouble that limited forward Karl-Anthony Towns, while Raptors forward Brandon Ingram poured in 17 points during the same period.
The Knicks seized control in the second quarter, holding Toronto to 13 points and outscoring the Raptors by 21. Head coach Mike Brown credited growing familiarity within the roster after a rocky 3-6 road start to the season.
“We’re starting to figure out who we are,” Brown said. “Early in the year we had a lot of injuries in the preseason, so I didn’t have a great feel for the team. We still have a lot of room to grow on both sides of the floor.”
Towns, back after missing one game with left calf tightness, finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Guard/forward Josh Hart continued his productive run since rejoining the starting lineup on Nov. 24, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and closing with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Hart is shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range over that stretch, making Toronto’s tactic of assigning centers to him counterproductive for the second straight meeting.
The Knicks had fallen in the NBA Cup quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons. This year they advance to Las Vegas, where they will face the Orlando Magic for the second time in less than a week. New York defeated Orlando 106-100 on Sunday, a game that ended with Magic guard Desmond Bane hurling the ball at Knicks forward OG Anunoby over a non-call, an action that cost Bane a $35,000 fine.
The upcoming matchup will be the fourth between the two clubs this season, adding another layer of familiarity as both chase the competition’s financial incentives.
Source: ESPN.com
