Raptors Fall To Knicks 112 To 95 In Tough Late Season Loss
The Toronto Raptors came into New York hoping to keep their late season momentum going. Instead they ran into a very confident Knicks team and dropped a 112 to 95 decision at Madison Square Garden on April 11th.
This one felt frustrating because the Raptors showed flashes where the game looked within reach. Toronto made a push late in the third quarter and briefly cut into the Knicks lead. New York responded with a strong finish and pulled away during the fourth quarter to close the door.
The Knicks controlled much of the game after a big second quarter where they outscored Toronto by fourteen points. That stretch created the cushion New York needed and forced the Raptors to spend the rest of the night trying to catch up.
Big Performances
New York was led by Jalen Brunson, who scored 29 points and controlled the offense for long stretches of the game. Brunson had a particularly strong third quarter which helped maintain the Knicks lead.
Karl Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds while providing a strong inside presence throughout the game.
Mikal Bridges chipped in 13 points and played solid defense on the perimeter.
For Toronto the leading scorer was Sandro Mamukelashvili, who finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds while bringing energy off the bench.
Brandon Ingram added 16 points and 6 assists while continuing to create offense when the Raptors needed a scoring push.
Several other Raptors contributed though Toronto struggled to keep pace with New York’s efficiency during key stretches of the game.
What Happened Near The End
The Raptors were still fighting late in the third quarter and trying to create momentum heading into the final period.
New York responded by executing well offensively and attacking the paint. Toronto also struggled with turnovers during critical possessions which allowed the Knicks to extend the lead again.
Once the Knicks pushed the lead back into double digits during the fourth quarter the Raptors simply ran out of time to mount a full comeback.
New York finished strong and secured the victory while also locking up the third seed in the Eastern Conference with the win.
Another frustrating note for Toronto fans is that the Knicks have now beaten the Raptors 13 straight times, which has become an annoying trend in this matchup.
Where The Raptors Stand In The Eastern Conference
With the loss Toronto now sits at 45 wins and 36 losses as the regular season reaches its final days.
The Raptors are still in the middle of a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto is currently battling for the sixth seed, which is the final guaranteed playoff spot that avoids the Play In Tournament. The Orlando Magic are right there in the standings as well which makes every remaining game extremely important.
First place in the East is realistically out of reach at this point in the season. The teams at the top built a large cushion earlier in the year and there simply are not enough games remaining for Toronto to climb that far.
The focus right now is finishing strong and staying inside the Top 6 so the Raptors can avoid the Play In and head directly into the playoffs.
Final Thoughts From A Longtime Raptors Fan
Losses like this one are frustrating because Toronto showed moments where they looked capable of competing with one of the top teams in the conference.
At the same time this is the reality of the final stretch of the NBA season. The margin for error gets very small and every possession matters.
The encouraging part is that the Raptors have still been playing much better basketball recently and remain right in the middle of the playoff race.
A strong finish over the final games could still position Toronto for a solid playoff matchup.
Fans just want to see this team peak at the right time.
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
