Nothing to see here – just the high-powered New York Knickerbockers buzzsaw slaughtering opponents on the road.
Make it seven wins in eight games for the Knicks, whose 145-101 rout of the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night helps improve New York’s bid for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks recorded 37 assists, and 145 points marking the most points the Knicks have scored in four quarters since Nov. 1980.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers’ loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Knicks are now in sole possession of the Eastern Conference’s third seed. And with the Milwaukee Bucks still searching for consistency after a midseason coaching change and the blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard, the No. 2 seed is within reach, too. The Bucks lost to the Lakers (without Lebron James) on Tuesday.
The Knicks are now just two games behind second place in the Eastern Conference. And they’ve done it without their entire starting frontcourt.
Former starting center Mitchell Robinson returned to the rotation after surgery on his left ankle kept him out of the lineup since Dec. 8. Robinson came off the bench and logged 12 minutes, finishing with eight points, two rebounds and two blocks on the night.
His blend of size, strength, athleticism and defensive chops was immediately on display as a deterrent near the rim against the shorthanded Raptors team. The Knicks traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors for OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa on Dec. 30, yet of the four players, only Achiuwa suited up on Wednesday.
Anunoby continues to miss time rehabbing after right elbow surgery, and both Barrett and Quickley missed their final matchup against the Knicks conditioning for an injury return.
Knicks All-Star Julius Randle also continues to miss games after dislocating his right shoulder on Jan. 27, and Raptors star Scottie Barnes sat due to a hand injury. The result was a showcase between battered rosters, but the Knicks continue to win games while missing two of their best players.
The Knicks are now 15-11 since Randle and Anunoby left the rotation on Jan. 27, though Anunoby returned early from his elbow surgery and played in three games (all victories) before leaving the team once again for injury maintenance.
The Knicks led by as many as 44 – and one game after Donte DiVincenzo set a new franchise record with 11 made 3s against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Miles “Deuce” McBride made his own run at the 3-point crown.
McBride matched his career-high with a team-high 29 points and shot 9 of 14 from downtown. He made six 3s in the first quarter and logged 40 minutes before coach Tom Thibodeau pulled him from the game early in the fourth quarter.
Achiuwa finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, punctuating his night against his former team with an emphatic tomahawk jam late in the final period.
Jalen Brunson played 29 minutes and logged 26 points and seven assists, and DiVincenzo scored 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field. DiVincenzo now needs three triples to pass Evan Fournier for most 3s in a Knicks season.
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