One week shy of the anniversary of the transformative commerce that landed OG Anunoby and Valuable Achiuwa in New York on the finish of 2024, the Knicks simply took care of a sinking Raptors squad that sports activities the second-worst report within the Jap Convention.
An almost flawless Anunoby and the surging Knicks posted their ninth win of their previous 11 video games heading right into a Christmas matinee in opposition to Victor Wembanyama and the improved Spurs, pulling away within the second quarter Monday night time after a sluggish begin for a 139-125 victory over Toronto on the Backyard.
Anunoby registered 31 factors on a scorching 13-for-15 taking pictures efficiency — making his first 11 pictures — and he completed with a plus-25 ranking in opposition to his former workforce.
Karl-Anthony Cities additionally posted one other sturdy total recreation with 31 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists earlier than fouling out, making up for a quiet scoring night time from Jalen Brunson, who completed with 12 (4-for-13) together with seven assists.
Veteran guard Landry Shamet performed in solely the ultimate 1:20 in his Knicks debut late within the recreation after rehabbing a preseason shoulder damage, and the anticipated bench nailed his first 3-pointer of the season.
However reserve guard Cam Payne netted 11 of his season-high 19 in a 40-24 second quarter eruption for the Knicks (19-10).
RJ Barrett, who was traded by the Knicks to his hometown workforce with now-injured Immanuel Quickley (elbow) within the Anunoby swap on Dec. 30 of final yr, scored 23 factors and Scottie Barnes had 24 because the skidding Raptors (7-23) dropped their eighth straight recreation.
Anunoby threw down an assortment of dunks and was 4-for-6 from 3-point vary after coming into the sport in a 17-for-50 taking pictures hunch over his earlier 4 appearances, whereas additionally carrying tape over his surgically repaired left elbow in Saturday’s win in New Orleans.
“Just normal stuff that guys go through during the course of the season,” Tom Thibodeau stated of Anunoby. “Whenever you play, you’re going to get hit. There’s issues that occur, however he’s taking part in rather well.
“The thing about it, there’s going to be different stretches where the ball is going in, sometimes it doesn’t go in. Just keep doing all the things that he does, the defense, and he can play at a really high level even when he doesn’t shoot well. We know he’s one of the best shooters in the league. So, in the end it’ll be there.”
Brunson was held scoreless within the first quarter, lacking 4 makes an attempt from the ground and two from the free-throw line.
However Miles McBride (12 factors) got here off the bench to nail two 3-pointers in his first minute on the ground and Payne buried one other from deep because the Knicks carried a 30-28 edge by means of one quarter.
An inside bucket by Barrett nudged the Raptors forward early within the second, however Payne nailed two extra treys and a standard 3-point play amid a 15-2 run for an 11-point Knicks cushion.
Cities additionally transformed an and-1 and Anunoby threw down a dunk within the spurt.
Payne drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the half and Josh Hart went up-and-under for a reverse layup to increase the benefit to 14.
The Knicks led by as many as 21 — and so they received the quarter by 16 — for a 70-52 lead at intermission regardless of Brunson managing simply three factors on three late free throws.
An extended outlet move from Cities to Anunoby for a dunk and two OG jumpers pushed the Knicks’ benefit to 31 late within the third, and so they had been cruising by a 111-82 rely heading into the ultimate quarter.
