OG Torches Knicks
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
When the New York Knicks (5-1) hosted the Toronto Raptors (4-3) Monday night they had established something in this young season. Aside from the blip of losing to the Orlando Magic in their second home game (after destroying the Magic on the road) the Knicks showed in beating visiting division rivals Boston and Philadelphia, that no matter what team they host, the Knicks had regained that home court advantage mentality. They have also proved they can win on the road in taking out the Chicago Bulls (who were 4-0 when they met) and the New Orleans Pelicans two nights later bringing their road record to 3-0. It looked like the Knicks would continue their winning ways at the World’s Most Famous Arena but in the end, Raptors small forward OG Anunoby had a big say in the 113-104 Toronto victory.
It could not have started better for the Knicks as forward and last year’s Sixth Man of the Year award winner Julius Randle came out on fire. Of the 34 first quarter points the Knicks put on the board, Randle was responsible for 18 including 3, 3-pointers from downtown. Anunoby was just getting started himself as he chipped in 10 points cutting the lead to 8 (34-26) at the end of the first quarter. The Knicks comfort level rose after a Evan Fournier finger roll layup extended their lead (50-35) before the Raptors woke up. In the last 4:15 of the second quarter, Toronto outscored New York 18-7 cutting the lead to 4 (57-53) at halftime with Anunoby adding 9 more points. It would be the beginning of the end for New York.
As the Knicks scoring went cold, OG added 10 more points as the Raptors would go on a 30-18 run after the Knicks tied the score at 61 after a Fournier short jumper. As hot as Randle was to begin the game, he was ice cold in the third. Randall did not score in the third quarter missing both of his shot attempts as the Raptors entered the final quarter leading 91-79. Randall would only score 4 more points, finishing with 22. Said Randall of the team’s second home loss to start the season, “it’s disappointing. A loss is always disappointing. You play every game to win but you can’t sulk on it.”
The closest New York would get was after a pair of Mitchell Robinson free throws cut the lead to 9 (100-91) as Anunoby finished his night with a game high 36 points on 13 of 27 shooting. Gary Trent, Jr added 26 points. Knicks RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 27 points.
“We lost the lead, got back on our heels. They were the aggressors and that’s basically the story off the game” said second year head coach Tom Thibodeau after.
If the New York Knicks have shown anything about themselves in this young season, it is the ability to bounce back after a loss. They will have a chance to do that again when they faced the Indiana Pacers this past Wednesday before traveling to Milwaukee Friday to face the World Champion Bucks. The Knicks return home Sunday to host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
