New York held out its entire starting five — Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby and Towns — for tonight's game in Toronto, each sidelined for rest with Thursday's rematch picked as when they're expected back. It's a move built for a scheduling edge: Toronto is grinding through a stretch that's kept it on the road, while the Knicks arrive fresher.
All Five Sit
Mike Brown is holding every starter out of tonight's preseason finale at Toronto — Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Towns all get the night off, each sidelined for rest. Thursday's rematch at the Garden is when the group is expected back, giving Brown a clean look at his bench against a Raptors team mid-grind on the road.
Monday's Message
The loss to Minnesota, 104-122, was the third straight exhibition defeat, but the box score hinted at Monday's call before it was made: Brunson, Anunoby, Towns and Bridges all logged exactly 22 minutes, a deliberate cap. Brunson still got to 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting before his night ended early.
Raptors' Grind
Toronto is four games into a stretch that hasn't left the road once, with three games already played this week and only one day off before tonight. The Knicks, by contrast, have played just once in the last week and carry three days of rest — the kind of cushion that makes benching starters an easy call.
Towns Talks Still Stalled
The paused contract talks with Towns remain unresolved, with nothing new since Hart's comments on the decision earlier this week. Resting him tonight doesn't move that needle either way before the opener.
Bottom Line
The rematch comes Thursday at the Garden, then the schedule turns real on October 20 against Philadelphia. Preseason record won't matter by then — whether the starters look sharp together will.
Why are the Knicks resting all their starters against Toronto?
Mike Brown held out Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby and Towns for a scheduling edge — New York is fresher than Toronto, which is four games into a stretch that hasn't left the road.
When do the Knicks play the Raptors again?
New York hosts the rematch at the Garden on Thursday, October 15, before the regular season opens October 20 against Philadelphia.
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