NBA: Karl-Anthony Towns stars in return, Knicks rout Raptors
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks against Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) and center Jakob Poeltl (19) during the first quarter of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart each posted double-doubles Wednesday night for the host New York Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak by gradually pulling away from the Toronto Raptors for a 112-98 win in the NBA.
Towns, who was listed as questionable after missing Monday’s 103-94 loss to the Orlando Magic with a knee injury, finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds in his 31st double-double of the season. Hart had 21 points and 11 rebounds while adding seven assists.
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OG Anunoby, opposing the team with whom he spent the first six-plus seasons of his career, also had 27 points while Jalen Brunson (13 points, seven assists, six rebounds) and Mikal Bridges (10 points) also scored in double figures as the Knicks snapped their longest losing streak since a three-game skid March 29-April 2, 2024.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors during the first quarter of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points while Scottie Barnes had 18 and RJ Barrett finished with 16 for the Raptors, who have lost 14 of 15. Quickley and Barrett were sent to Toronto in exchange for Anunoby on Dec. 30, 2023. New York has won all five matchups since the deal.
Article continues after this advertisementChris Boucher added 10 points, all in the final four minutes of the fourth, for the Raptors.
The Raptors scored 12 of the first 20 points before the Knicks mounted a 19-7 run, Brunson hit a layup with 6:08 left to give New York the lead for good at 14-12.
The Knicks led 28-24 at the end of the first and took a quartet of 10-point leads before the Raptors scored eight in a row to pull within 50-48 on a floater by Barrett with 1:15 left.
New York led 55-51 at the half. The Raptors closed within a possession three times early in the third, the last time at 61-58 on a 3-pointer by Gradey Dick with 9:43 left.
The Knicks began pulling away by ending the quarter on a 25-18 run and removed any doubt by scoring 15 unanswered points in the fourth, while Toronto went 0-for-8 with two turnovers during a stretch lasting more than five minutes.
Bridges’ 3-pointer with 2:30 left gave the Knicks their biggest lead at 112-86 with 2:30 left before the Raptors scored the final 12 points. –Field Level Media
