Knicks Secure Favorable Playoff Position with Win Against Raptors
As they approach the playoffs, the Knicks must be feeling pretty confident about facing the Raptors. This matchup seems like it could be an easier series, especially given the recent performances.
On Friday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks dismantled the Raptors, claiming a 112-95 victory. This win marked their 13th consecutive triumph over Toronto, completing yet another season sweep. This streak has been ongoing since 2023.
With the Celtics falling to the Pelicans and the Cavaliers losing to the Hawks, the Knicks have secured the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors’ defeat means they could be slipping to the No. 6 seed, which is the position the Knicks are set to compete against in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Hawks will move up to the No. 5 seed with their win.
This victory really shifts the dynamics for the Knicks in the playoff scene. With a few favorable outcomes, they might just end up in a significantly advantageous position, at least on paper.
Looking ahead to Sunday, there could be more changes. If the Raptors win against the Nets and the Hawks lose to the Heat, the playoff seedings might flip again, possibly shifting the Knicks’ first-round opponent to the Hawks.
There’s still a chance for the Magic to snag the No. 6 seed, having recently beaten the Bulls, but that would depend on the Raptors losing to the Nets, which seems unlikely.
This makes Sunday’s game for the Knicks against the Hornets rather inconsequential. They can rest several key players, which should provide them a little extra time to recharge before postseason play.
In the spotlight recently have been Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. As the regular season wraps up, they appear to be finding their groove. Both delivered strong performances on Friday. Brunson led the game with 29 points, while Towns made a significant impact early, scoring or assisting on the Knicks’ first seven points, ultimately finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds. With OG Anunoby sidelined for the entire second half due to an ankle injury, the team had to rely heavily on scoring.
Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet chipped in with 10 and 8 points respectively.
The Raptors were already short-handed, missing former Knicks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley due to injuries.
The Knicks are currently on a roll, having won five straight games, including three against playoff-caliber teams, after a rough patch where they struggled against teams over .500. They’ve taken 12 of their last 15 games.
The Knicks built an early 14-3 lead but allowed the Raptors to close the first quarter on an 18-8 run, ending the quarter just one point ahead. However, they quickly regained control with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. After being sidelined for a couple of games, Jose Alvarado took advantage of a rare chance to play and contributed effectively, finishing with 12 points.
They managed to extend their lead to 15 points by halftime and maintained a significant advantage throughout most of the second half.
Mitchell Robinson was held out for load management, paving the way for Ariel Hukporti to gain some valuable experience, where he added 8 points.
It’s been a while since the Knicks-Raptors matchups have felt this one-sided. Given the current trajectory, it seems likely that we’ll witness that series unfold in the playoffs.
