Thirteen. That’s how many straight games the New York Knicks have owned the Toronto Raptors, a streak that’s absolutely bonkers when you think about it. But as they hit Scotiabank Arena tonight, that dominance feels a lot shakier than usual. The Knicks, sitting at 6-6, seemed to get things figured out after dropping their first three, but then Cleveland and Indiana cut them down. Now they’re facing a 5-7 Raptors squad that’s lost three in a row itself, but has a wild card up their sleeve.
New York’s Rocky Road To Toronto
After seeming to turn a corner, the Knicks have hit some bumps. Even with Jalen Brunson dropping 33 points and 11 assists against Indiana, and Karl-Anthony Towns snagging 23 points and 15 boards for his *12th straight double-double*, they still got annihilated in the paint 50-30. That’s just rough. On the positive side, Mikal Bridges scored 18 points on 12 shots in that game, which, while not perfect, was a real encouraging step. We’re gonna need that kind of spark again tonight, especially from Josh Hart, who’s been battling his own struggles and needs a strong performance to keep things comfortable. The good news for New York is their injury list is completely blank.
Raptors’ Numbers and The Scottie Barnes Question Mark
The Raptors aren’t exactly setting the world on fire at 5-7, with three straight losses and a 3-7 run recently. But their numbers tell a story of a team that can move the ball, ranking third with 28.1 assists per game, and they’re snatching 10.6 steals per game. They average 114.2 points with a 115.3 offensive rating, but their shooting is, let’s be honest, unimpressive: 33% from deep and 54% from the field.
Individually, R.J. Barrett is pouring in 21.3 points per game, even going for 31 points and 14 boards in Philadelphia, shooting 9-for-13 inside the arc. Immanuel Quickley adds 17.6 points per game and can really punish lazy defense. Jakob Poeltl is still anchoring their D in the middle, and off the bench, Sandro Mamukelashvili led them with 17 points and 8 rebounds the last time these two teams met.
But the biggest story tonight? Scottie Barnes. He averages 23.5 points and 5.1 assists, but he’s missed the last four games with a groin injury. He’s a game-time decision tonight, and his return would be a massive boost for Toronto’s offense. Could he be the one to finally break that brutal 13-game losing streak against the Knicks?
The Knicks won the last regular-season meeting 112-95 on April 10, fueled by Brunson’s 29 points, Towns’ 22 points and 10 boards, and 27 points off turnovers. Tonight’s the first of two straight in Toronto, and it tips off at 6:00 PM ET. The prediction? The Knicks by four. But man, if Barnes plays, this could be a whole different ballgame.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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