Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby spearheaded the New York Knicks’ dominant 139-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Both players scored 31 points, leading the Knicks (19-10) to their fourth consecutive win.
Towns recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and added seven assists. He shot 11-for-15 from the field and made eight of his 10 free throws before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Anunoby matched Towns’ scoring total, going an efficient 13-for-15 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.
The Knicks displayed their depth, with seven players finishing in double figures. Cameron Payne came off the bench to score 19 points, hitting four three-pointers, and provided a crucial spark in the second quarter. Payne’s 11 points in the period helped New York outscore Toronto 40-24, turning a two-point deficit into an 18-point halftime lead.
Jalen Brunson had a quieter night than usual, finishing with 12 points and seven assists. Despite shooting just 4-of-13 from the field, Brunson’s playmaking kept the Knicks’ offense flowing. Mikal Bridges added 14 points, while Miles McBride contributed 12 points off the bench.
Toronto (7-23) struggled defensively, allowing New York to shoot 59% from the field. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 24 points and eight assists, while RJ Barrett added 23 points and six assists against his former team.
Toronto’s bench saw strong performances from Chris Boucher and Ja’Kobe Walter, who both scored 16 points. Boucher hit four three-pointers and was one of the few Raptors to finish with a positive plus-minus rating. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome New York’s relentless attack.
The Raptors’ defense faltered in the paint and on the perimeter, as the Knicks hit 17 three-pointers at a 46% clip. New York also dominated the boards, outrebounding Toronto 35-30, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to second-chance opportunities.
The Knicks’ defense tightened after a sluggish first quarter, in which Toronto shot 52% and held a 32-30 lead. By halftime, New York had 70 points despite Brunson managing just three points in the opening half.