The New York Knicks faced off against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, proving a successful continuation of the Knicks’ season so far.
The Knicks secured a home victory last night against the Raptors, leaning heavily on defensive attack and an overwhelming edge on the offensive glass. The final score of 116-94 didn’t exactly reflect the intense, physical nature of the contest, one that required the Knicks to maintain discipline against a fast-paced Toronto attack.
Knicks’ Head Coach Mike Brown highlighted the team’s defensive effort as the cornerstone of the win.
“One of the things we talked about to our guys is trying to be physical defensively,” he said, noting the team’s ability to hold the Raptors to just 94 points. He emphasized the challenge of containing a high-scoring team and credited his players for being “physical without fouling while getting back in transition,” which was “huge” for limiting Toronto’s fast break points in the fourth quarter. Brown singled out Mitchell Robinson, calling him the “defensive player of the game” for his “really impactful” minutes and his aggressive pursuit of loose balls, noting that the Knicks claimed all nine of the night’s 50-50 balls.
The other key to the victory was the relentless attack on the offensive glass. The Knicks hauled in an impressive 25 offensive rebounds, leading to 22 second-chance points.
“That’s who we are, and we have to continue attacking the glass relentlessly so we can get second opportunities because it turns into points, a lot of points for us,” Brown added.
Mitchell Robinson led the charge with seven offensive boards, while Josh Hart added five, showcasing the commitment from both the frontcourt and the guards, including Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.
In terms of team personnel, two players received high praise for their contributions: Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride. On Bridges’ matchup against the Raptors’ dynamic wings, the coach acknowledged it’s “really hard to kind of shut them off,” but gave credit to Bridges for his work “at the point of attack” and highlighted the overall effectiveness of the “five guys guarding the basketball.”
Miles McBride, in his starting role, was lauded for bringing an “irreplaceable” level of physicality, especially against ball-handlers in the pick and roll. The coach likened his defensive prowess to that of Davion Mitchell, saying McBride’s ability to pressure the ball and get over screens is “second to none.” McBride’s offensive game also shone, as he capitalized on “wide-open catch and shoot shots” thanks to the team’s spacing.
The team’s 10-1 start at home was a topic of discussion in the locker room. “Our fans are making it easy,” Karl-Anthony Towns said, praising the “priceless” energy from the crowd.
Josh Hart echoed this sentiment, stating, “Obviously, the fans come out and show love with very intense support.” The victory moves the Knicks to 10-1 at home, a strong start they hope to carry into next week’s NBA Cup Quarterfinals matchup—a chance for a quick rematch with these same Raptors.
The Knicks and Raptors will go head-to-head again in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, December 9 at 8:30 pm.
