The New York Knicks closed out their preseason Thursday night with a win over the Toronto Raptors, showing improved chemistry on both ends of the floor as the team prepares for the regular season. But with the final roster decisions looming, the attention surrounding the Knicks extends beyond the court.
The Knicks began trimming their roster Thursday, waiving Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji, while center Drew Eubanks was also reported to be out after suffering a torn pectoral muscle, according to sources. The moves have narrowed the competition for the final roster spots to James Wiseman and Bruce Brown.
Keeping both players would require the Knicks to make a trade to open up a roster spot. Wiseman appears positioned to fill the third-string center role, while Brown’s survival through Thursday’s round of cuts suggests he remains a legitimate candidate to make the opening-night roster.
The question now is how the Knicks could make room for Brown. Could they move third year wing Pacôme Dadiet, or would they consider trading a more established bench piece, such as Miles McBride or Tyler Kolek?
Coach Mike Brown spoke before Thursday’s game about what Bruce Brown could bring to the roster if he makes the team.
“Bruce has been through a lot with a lot of different teams at a pretty high level. His toughness, his experience, his feel, all those things, he’s a winner. It seems like every place he’s gone, he’s won, but all those things can add a lot to the program, and then he’s versatile on both ends of the floor. He could play a few different positions offensively, he can guard a few different positions defensively. So a guy like that, especially a veteran winner, can be helpful to any team.”
While the front office weighs its options, the Knicks used their preseason finale as a final tuneup for the regular season, with the starters playing their usual minutes. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara started for New York. Josh Hart missed the game with an ankle injury, but Brown said after the game that the injury was not serious and was not expected to cause a long-term issue.
Knicks find their rhythm in preseason finale
The game opened with a noticeably higher level of intensity as both teams looked to sharpen their play before the regular season. Toronto’s Scottie Barnes came out firing, scoring nine of the Raptors’ first 12 points.
New York responded with balanced offense and strong ball movement, getting everyone involved early. Brunson found his spots from all three levels, while Diawara knocked down open 3-pointers as the Knicks worked to find the best available shot.
McBride and Andre Drummond provided an immediate spark off the bench late in the first quarter. McBride connected on three consecutive 3-pointers, while Drummond made his presence felt on the offensive glass, creating additional scoring opportunities for New York.
Barnes, meanwhile, showcased his improved perimeter shooting. He went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half and entered halftime with 15 points, two rebounds and three assists on 6-for-10 shooting.
Toronto came out aggressively after halftime. After surrendering the lead early in the third quarter, Brunson helped steady the Knicks with a floater through contact for an and-one, cutting the deficit to three.
Brunson also made his presence felt defensively, drawing a charge and demonstrating the same willingness to do the dirty work that helped him lead the NBA in charges drawn last season.
New York regained the lead when Towns knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key, energizing the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Drummond continued to make an impact late in the third, converting an and-one before finishing a well-placed pass from Jose Alvarado with a dunk along the baseline. Anunoby then drove into the lane and kicked the ball out to Alvarado, who buried a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Knicks an eight-point advantage entering the fourth.
New York maintained its momentum in the final quarter. Alvarado knocked down another big shot, while Anunoby attacked the basket and finished strong blowing past Barnes. The Knicks continued to generate offense, draw fouls and convert their free throws to close out the victory.
Towns, Drummond provide interior production
Towns finished just one assist shy of a triple-double, recording 13 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Drummond added 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists in an all-around performance that highlighted his potential value as a key piece of the Knicks’ bench.
After the game, Mike Brown praised both players, before realizing that Towns wanted to remain on the floor as he approached a triple-double.
“That’s why he wanted to stay in the game, he was waving me off, KAT is such a nice guy I was going to wave back — I didn’t know he was one assist away,” Brown said. “ I thought Andre was really good, too. He played a good game of basketball on both ends of the floor. He was very impactful.”
Brown also emphasized Drummond’s ability to create opportunities through screening, rolling to the basket and rebounding, while providing a physical presence defensively.
“We need Andre to screen and roll and put pressure on our opponents, because if they switch, he’s going to offer us a rebound,” Brown said. “Defensively, we just need him to be big and protect the rim, not necessarily with shot blocks but going vertical. I thought he was really, really good in both those areas throughout the course of the game.”
Towns echoed his coach’s praise, highlighting Drummond’s rebounding ability and the potential for the veteran center to contribute even more in New York.
“He’s amazing. I told y’all, he’s, in my opinion, one of the best rebounders of our generation,” Towns said. “To be able to have him on our team and be able to expand on what he can do and what people haven’t been able to see is a testament to his trust in us and a testament to the coaching staff.”
Knicks turn attention to final roster decisions
The preseason finale provided an encouraging finish for New York, which picked up a win in its final tuneup before the regular season. Although preseason results carry limited weight, the Knicks showed improved offensive flow, better defensive cohesion and encouraging contributions from several players who could play important roles throughout the year.
The bigger questions now rest with the front office.
Wiseman and Brown remain two names to watch as New York determines how to finalize its roster. If the Knicks decide to keep Brown, they will need to create an additional roster spot, potentially through a trade.
Dadiet could be a candidate if New York decides to move a younger wing, while Kolek could also draw interest from other teams. Moving McBride would represent a different kind of decision, given his established role in the Knicks’ rotation.
For now, the Knicks have wrapped up their preseason on a positive note. Their next challenge will be determining which players will be part of the group when the championship banner gets raised on Tuesday night.
