But VanVleet picked up the slack for Toronto, hitting two 3-pointers and scoring 10 points. Toronto closed the game on a 12-5 run.
The Knicks had allowed an average of 98 points during their winning streak, but there was no answer for Siakam, who nearly matched his career high (44 points) by scoring 43 in three quarters. Siakam had 34 points in total in the second and third quarters, including Toronto’s final 17 points over a seven-minute span in the third.
Siakam scored 26 in the first half, including eight during an 11-0 run in the second quarter that turned a one-point game into a double-digit Toronto lead. Siakam had 17 of the Raptors’ 35 points in the second, and Anunoby had seven of his 11 in the second.
Barrett kept New York in the game by scoring 19 points in the first half. Despite shooting 53% in the first half, the Knicks had 11 turnovers and trailed by as many as 14 in the first period and by 10 at halftime.
But New York stormed out of the gate in the third quarter, taking the lead with a 13-2 run that was keyed by Quickley’s two 3-pointers.
TIP-INS
The NBA announced it docked the Knicks a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft after “finding that (they) engaged in free agency discussions involving Jalen Brunson prior to the date such discussions were permitted.” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau refused to comment on the matter. … Toronto guard Gary Trent, Jr. (quad) and center Khem Birch (non-COVID illness) did not play. Trent missed his fourth straight game. … New York guard Quentin Grimes (ankle) missed his first game since Nov. 16 after sustaining the injury against Golden State on Tuesday.
UP NEXT:
Toronto: At Cleveland on Friday.
New York: Host Chicago on Friday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Pat Pickens, The Associated Press
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