Miles McBride tallied 29 points and seven assists as the New York Knicks secured a dominant 145-101 win over the shorthanded Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Jalen Brunson contributed 26 points and seven assists as New York (44-28) clinched their third consecutive victory. Former Raptors player Precious Achiuwa achieved a double-double off the bench, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, as six Knicks players reached double digits in scoring.
Rookie forward Gradey Dick achieved a career-high 23 points as the Raptors (23-50) suffered their 12th consecutive loss.
Center Kelly Olynyk of Kamloops, B.C., achieved 13 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in a game where Toronto never held a lead.
The 44-point margin marked Toronto's most severe home loss in franchise history, surpassing a 41-point difference in a 139-98 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on March 5.
The already depleted Raptors lost guard Ochai Agbaji to injury early in the game.
Agbaji was injured within the first six minutes of the game, attempting to convert an alley-oop pass from Olynyk. The 23-year-old guard missed the dunk and fell hard on his tailbone, immediately putting his hand on his lower back and writhing on the floor in obvious pain.
He had to be assisted to the locker room and did not return to the game due to a right hip contusion.
Agbaji's injury adds to Toronto's already extensive list of inactive players.
All-star forward Scottie Barnes (left hand fracture), center Jakob Poeltl (left hand torn ligament), swingman RJ Barrett (personal reasons), point guard Immanuel Quickley (personal reasons), forward Chris Boucher (partial MCL tear), guard D.J. Carton (right ankle sprain), and Jontay Porter (personal reasons) were already out.
McBride dominated the first quarter, scoring 18 points and providing three assists in that period alone. The Knicks led by as many as 17 points, establishing a 45-33 lead to start the game.
New York closed the second quarter with a 9-4 run, holding an 80-59 lead at halftime.
The Knicks continued their strong performance in the third quarter. Brunson scored nine of his points in the quarter as New York outscored Toronto 31-21 in the period to carry a 111-80 lead into the fourth.
A 15-0 run by the Knicks in the middle of the fourth quarter prompted most of the 19,133 fans at Scotiabank Arena to depart early.
ANUNOBY & ACHIUWA — OG Anunoby and Achiuwa were honored with video tributes in the first quarter. Toronto traded the pair Dec. 30 to the Knicks for Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., and Quickley. Only Achiuwa played Wednesday. Anunoby was recovering from elbow surgery and both Barrett and Quickley were inactive for personal reasons.
UP NEXT
The Raptors will continue their homestand on Sunday when they face the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks will head to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Friday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on March 27, 2024.
