The Knicks lost 98-148 to the Raptors on Tuesday, a third straight preseason loss following defeats to the Wizards and Timberwolves. Toronto led by as many as 45 after New York's only lead of the game, a brief two-point edge, disappeared for good.
Blown Out Early
The Knicks' biggest lead was two points, and that was the extent of it. Toronto answered with a 10-0 run in the first quarter, then closed that period and opened the second with another 9-0 stretch. The margin swelled to 45 at its widest. New York fell 98-148, its third straight preseason loss, with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart all held out.
Second-Quarter Horror
The Raptors scored 44 points in the second quarter alone. A 12-0 run pushed their lead from 29 to 39 points, and an 8-0 run that bled into the third quarter stretched it further. Scottie Barnes had 19 points and a plus-28 mark in just 21 minutes. Kawhi Leonard needed only 17 minutes to score 21 on 6-of-12 shooting, four of his eight makes from three.
Who Was Left Standing
Mike Brown's last five on the floor — Kevin McCullar Jr., Ochai Agbaji, Tony Bradley, Tyler Kolek and Tyler Nickel — played out the finish against Toronto's own reserves. Pacome Dadiet (minus-9 in 13 minutes), Drew Eubanks (minus-12 in 12) and McCullar (minus-13 in 9) came out the least damaged. Mohamed Diawara (minus-28 in 20 minutes), Bruce Brown (minus-27 in 11) and Jose Alvarado (minus-25 in 17) took the worst of it.
Grading The Night
Tyler Nickel scored 8 points off the bench but needed 7 shots and missed four of five threes: C-minus. Miles McBride also scored 8 with 3 assists in 19 minutes, shooting just 2-of-7: C-minus. Diawara put up 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting, two of them threes, the cleanest look of the group, but owned the largest minus on the roster at minus-28: B-minus.
What It Sets Up
New York sees Toronto again in two days, on October 15, with Towns, Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby and Hart all targeted to be back by then. The real opener follows October 20 against Philadelphia, and this version of the roster will not be the one standing there.
Why didn't the Knicks' starters play against the Raptors?
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart were all held out as day-to-day rest, with an estimated return of October 15.
When do the Knicks play the Raptors again?
Two days later, on October 15, still in the preseason, before the regular-season opener October 20 against Philadelphia.
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