The New York Knicks hang on to defeat the Toronto Raptors 112-108. Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson led the way, but it was a full team effort.
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The New York Knicks held on to defeat the Toronto Raptors 112 to 108. New York came out of the gate red hot behind a fast start for Julius Randle and led throughout the action. But the Raptors kept within striking distance and made a last-minute run behind their full-court press. The Knicks’ closer, Jalen Brunson, took control of the game late and helped the Knicks hang on.
All of New York’s starters reached double-digits. The second unit provided momentum, especially when Immanuel Quickley rejoined them in the second half. Let’s look back at the hard-fought victory.
Julius Randle gets things started, and Jalen Brunson finishes them off
Jalen Brunson: 26 PTS (9/19 FG, 3/6 3PT, 5/7 FT), 8 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 5 TO in 38 mins
Jalen Brunson’s play seemed to improve as the game wore on. The Raptors made him work for offense early, but Brunson found ways to get buckets. Scoring came effortlessly as the game wore on, with New York’s point guard saving his best work for crunch time. Brunson put together his best possessions when the game was on the line.
Brunson filled out the rest of his stat sheet in an impressive fashion. His 8 dimes included no-look passes and well-read kick outs. He also contributed 5 rebounds, including a fantastic board he snatched from over the much bigger OG Anunoby. Brunson produced in every essential category.
But this was not a perfect performance. Brunson missed another free throw in the final minute of action. His early struggles included multiple sloppy turnovers that are uncharacteristic. The should-be All-Star was great, but there’s room to improve this performance. Brunson picks up a 4 out of 5 for closing out another win.
Immanuel Quickley: 13 PTS (4/8 FG, 0/3 3PT, 5/6 FT), 4 AST, 5 REB in 37 mins
Immanuel Quickley saved his best for the fourth quarter. The Raptors pulled within 1 point at the end of the third, but IQ cleverly drew fouls to end the quarter. He started the fourth with a pair of field goals and a pair of assists to Deuce McBride for three-pointers. Those plays gave New York the necessary cushion to survive later on.
We’ve constantly talked about Quickley’s defense this season, but he forces us to. IQ’s perimeter defense has been stellar all season, but he’s recently shown more switchability. His length and newfound strength keep him attached to ball handlers, disrupting big and small alike. In addition, his intelligence helps him remain a threat to jump any nearby passing lane.
Another poor shooting night from three reduced Quickley’s scoring from great to good. But he spent another night tallying key statistics without turning the ball over or compromising touches. IQ was a steady support player and shined when he took the lead with second-unit players surrounding him. Quickley gets a 3.5 out of 5 for his significant contributions in the fourth.
Quentin Grimes: 16 PTS (6/13 FG, 4/10 3PT), 2 AST, 2 TO in 36 mins
Despite his 16-point and 2-assist performance, I still wish Quentin Grimes would get more touches. Grimes shot the ball well, forcing Toronto to keep players close at all times. He finished in the lane on blow-by drives and picked up his usual dimes to Mitchell Robinson.
Grimes was so effective with his off-ball work that I would have liked to see him get opportunities to test defenders in a faceup. He might not be ready to assert himself that way, but these games without RJ Barrett would be the best time to find out. Unfortunately, Grimes didn’t take that aggressive approach; instead, he took what the defense gave him and played efficient basketball.
Grimes’ defense remained as consistent as ever. There were occasions where he’d check Pascal Siakam and force the much bigger player to pull up over contests. Grimes applies pressure to ball handlers better than anyone on the team. Grimes picks up a 3.5 for his highly efficient play.
Julius Randle: 32 PTS (10/22 FG, 6/11 3PT, 6/9 FT) 3 AST, 11 REB, 3 TO in 40 mins
Julius Randle’s fast starts have been a constant this season. He gave the Knicks a quick lead with 19 first-quarter points, which included 5 three-pointers and one long jumper with a foot on the line. After that, his jumper came down to Earth, but he continued to produce from the interior and by drawing fouls.
Randle’s leadership also popped in some key moments. He finally knocked down an end-of-quarter shot and came up with a big dunk to stop a Toronto run in the third. He grabbed some crucial rebounds, and his three dimes always seemed to come as the Raptors tried to increase their defensive intensity.
Randle’s been rolling for over a month now. He’s played great basketball all season, but his recent play is comprabale to most stars in the league. He was brilliant again in Toronto and didn’t have to carry the burden of creating everything down the stretch. With Brunson to spell him, Randle remained under control and picked up a 4.5 for his enormous impact.
Mitchell Robinson: 10 PTS (4/8 FG, 2/4 FT), 18 REB, 2 BLK in 35 mins
I talk about Mitchell Robinson’s unsung contributions fairly often. But the big man’s dominance leaped off the screen in this game. The Raptors didn’t have true Centers to throw at Mitch, so Robinson feasted in the middle. He grabbed every rebound in his orbit and created several critical second-chance opportunities.
Robinson’s 18 rebounds stole the show, but they shouldn’t overshadow his defensive presence. He blocked some tough drives from Scottie Barnes, avoiding whistles through sophisticated positioning before challenging the shots. In addition, Mitch was aggressive in protecting the paint, which led him to foul out after 35 minutes. But that’s a lot of time on the floor, and he took away the paint from Toronto scorers throughout that time.
I’m making a big push to get Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle more all-star votes, along with the rest of the Knicks fandom. But I also want to mention that I’m including Mitchell Robinson every time I vote. The big man has been crucial to New York’s success, and I can only think of one true center that has had a more significant impact in the East. Mitch gets a 4 out of 5 for dominating the middle.
Some scoring punch from the second-unit backcourt
Miles McBride: 9 PTS (3/6 FG, 3/5 3PT), 1 REB, 1 BLK in 21 mins
Miles McBride knocked down two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The pair of shots took an already solid performance and made it flat-out good. McBride had already provided an impressive defensive display. He didn’t register assists but had a few moments attacking off the dribble and creating looks for teammates. The defensive stalwart was active and involved throughout his time.
The threes put a bow on top of McBride’s contributions. Deuce hit one in the first half, then helped rebuild New York’s lead with the pair in the fourth. There’s still some hesitance to assert himself consistently, but the jumpers might boost his confidence to be more aggressive. McBride gets a 3.5 out of 5 for excellent defense and quality shooting.
Evan Fournier: 4 PTS (2/4 FG, 0/2 3PT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL in 12 mins
Evan Fournier provided the Knicks with some supplemental scoring behind 4 points and 2 assists. He missed his looks from three but made a circus shot on a drive and a pull-up. His steal was a well-timed hedge.
Fournier played well, and other players took advantage of the space he created. The French wing proved that he could contribute when needed.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 2 PTS (1/3 FG), 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 16 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein started the night strong, with a nice rotation and contest at the rim. He spent the rest of the night registering bland results. Hart’s lone field goal came from a putback. The big man also attempted a clumsy drive and finish that, unfortunately, might have been his most memorable play of the night.
Hartenstein got the job done as the backup to Mitchell Robinson. Hart doesn’t pack the same rim-protecting punch of Mitch or the elite bounce of Jericho Sims. But he held his own for a productive 16 minutes of action. The big man picks up a 2 out of 5 for his performance.
Jericho Sims: 0 PTS (0/0 FG), 1 REB in 4 mins
I want to see more of Jericho Sims in action. But while he’s barely playing, I don’t have much to say about him.
Tom Thibodeau reaches 100 wins with the Knicks
Congratulations to Tom Thibodeau for becoming the 8th coach to lead the Knicks to 100 wins. He’s in a rare territory with this success, mainly because most coaches don’t last long enough to compile so many victories. Thibs has faced plenty of scrutiny from the fans and media alike. But he always sticks to his convictions, and he’s well on his way to another winning season with a playoff berth at the end.
This win didn’t require many changes to Thibodeau’s recent formula. Instead, he road the starting line-up and squeezed as many minutes as possible from bench contributors. That included playing Evan Fournier some extra minutes over Jericho Sims, which improved spacing and led to some points from the veteran scorer. We also got some additional minutes from Miles McBride, who eventually rewarded Thibodeau with big shots in the fourth.
There are still moments in every game where I wonder why a player is in for so long or when I want a sub out of a timeout that doesn’t happen. But that’s the nature of being a fan. Thibodeau’s been too successful to receive the heat he gets, and I include myself in the people that give him too much flack. For leading the Knicks to yet another win, Thibodeau picks up a 4 out of 5.
Closing Thoughts
I’ve converted to a believer since the eight-game win streak, and even five losses in a row couldn’t shake my conviction. Those losses came with injuries dragging the team down, and they’re still not in total health. Even while New York wins games, we can see the areas that a full roster would help improve.
We got a tantalizing preview of the second unit’s potential when IQ led that group in the fourth quarter of this victory. That crew could use his added poise and punch.
That bench group also played in better spacing, thanks to Evan Fournier’s extra minutes. But the Knicks played small because Toronto’s roster allows for that. Obi Toppin’s almost back to provide respectable spacing with size to match opposing bigs on any roster.
Grimes and IQ could afford to take some weight of creation from Brunson and Randle, who have combined for 17 turnovers in the last two games. That’s where RJ Barrett’s return should help the most, along with getting to the free-throw line. Quickley was the only Knick wing to earn free throws in this game.
So the Knicks have won four straight, but they can improve even more. That’s exciting news, with Milwaukee Bucks visiting next. The Bucks have dealt with their injury woes but remain at the top of the East. We’ll see if New York can make a statement with a win and talk about it here. See you next time, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP’s interview with Fred Katz, Knicks Beat Reporter for The Athletic, for the Mid-Season Report!
