Toronto Raptors fall to New York Knicks, ousted from NBA Cup

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In the knockout stage of the NBA Cup with a trip to Las Vegas at stake, the Raptors were knocked out.

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In fact, the visiting New York Knicks beat the Raptors into submission in a quarterfinal matchup that was as flat as many of Toronto’s jumpers.

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So much anticipation surrounding the game, yet so little compelling moments, outside of the opening quarter when the Raptors looked good by playing inspired basketball. They ended up losing 117-101.

The physically and mentally tough Knicks are a bad matchup for the Raptors, who were missing two starters and whose bench basically went missing in action when it mattered.

Following Tuesday’s loss, the Raptors ended their five-game homestand with a 1-4 record as their overall record dropped to 15-11.

The following are three takeaways from a miserable night of hoops made somewhat tolerable with the return of Red Panda, a popular fixture when it comes to halftime NBA entertainment, and a night when the Knicks won their 10th game in a row against the Raptors.

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1. An electric start

For those who felt the NBA Cup didn’t carry much significance, they should have paid close attention to the opening period. The pace was quick, the shot-making elite at times, and the compete level quite high.

The Raptors had to compensate for the injury absence of RJ Barrett (knee) and Immanuel Quickley (illness), two players the club acquired from the Knicks in the deal that sent OG Anunoby to the Big Apple.

Jamal Shead got the start at point guard, while Ochai Agbaji started at the wing position. Credit Shead for leaving it all on the court, from the opening tap to the final buzzer. Toronto’s offence, understandably so, was compromised, but Brandon Ingram more than compensated.

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It was Ingram who had an off-night in New York recently when the Raptors lost both games of a back-to-back set that began in Charlotte. He was aggressive and decisive Tuesday night. Ingram needed help —  but not much came from his teammates.

The Knicks led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter after allowing Toronto to score 39 first-quarter points. Anunoby started the game on Ingram, who would then see Mikal Bridges guard the Raptors’ best offensive player.

2. Woe is the O

There have been stretches when the Raptors couldn’t buy a basket, times when the team’s offence was truly offensive. Then came Tuesday’s second quarter when the Raptors redefined the term offensive ineptitude.

Hard to describe why so many shots were missed, why turnovers became common, why so little offensive rhythm was established. The best description is to say the second quarter was hideous.

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Toronto scored 13 points in the 12-minute period, more than passable for an individual player, but putrid for an entire team. From very good to very bad, the Raptors experienced quite an extreme turn of fortune from the opening quarter to the second. Toronto led by four following the opening 12 minutes. By intermission, the Raptors were trailing by 17 points.

In terms of physicality, the Raptors failed to match New York.

3. KAT Nap

There was some drama surrounding the status of Karl-Anthony Towns, affectionately known as KAT. The big man, whose perimeter skills makes him hard to defend while also helping to spread the floor, has been dealing with tightness in his left calf. He was on the Knicks’ injury list heading into the night, but he persevered and was among the starting group. His night got off to as bad a start as possible when KAT picked up two fouls in five minutes, including one foul on an inadvertent elbow to Barnes’ mouth.

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The former first-overall pick was acquired last season from Minnesota in a deal that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves. Anthony Towns isn’t known for his defence, and neither is Jalen Brunson, but each can score.

Anthony Towns’ name is back in the rumor mill, this time involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains sidelined with a calf strain as the Greek Freak reportedly mulls his future in Milwaukee.

When Anthony Towns re-entered the game in the second quarter, Raptors starting centre Jakob Poeltl was on the bench as Toronto started Sandro Mamukelashvili, whose ability to extend his defence makes him more suited to guard KAT. He does lack size, while Poeltl lacks the proper foot speed to defend the perimeter.

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Offensively, KAT took advantage of a size mismatch by finishing at the rim after he took his defender off the dribble from the baseline. Defensively, he didn’t bother to contest a driving Scottie Barnes, fearful of picking up his third foul. Speaking of Barnes, a third foul was overturned when the Raptors successfully launched a challenge.

Up next

With the Raptors’ NBA Cup run over, they will have a few days to decompress before their next game Monday night in Miami against a Heat team that lost to Orlando in the other quarterfinal, despite jumping out to a 15-0 lead. Miami has dropped four straight games as have the Raptors.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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