Last night the Toronto Raptors lost 117 to 101 to the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. It was a one of those games where the visitors were simply more efficient, especially in the second quarter, and Toronto never really recovered. The score stung, and the Cup run ended, but I walked away proud of how this group competed and what they have built this season.
How the game went
The Knicks made a big push in the second quarter and led 69 to 52 at halftime. New York kept rolling through the third and fourth quarters while Toronto had spurts of life but could not erase the deficit. Jalen Brunson took over early, Josh Hart played with physicality, and the Knicks controlled the glass and pace in ways that mattered. Toronto fought hard and Brandon Ingram poured in points, but the short handed Raptors were simply a step behind for much of the night.
Big performances and numbers
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 35 points, getting hot early and keeping the scoring pressure on all night. Josh Hart added 21 points and gave New York toughness on both ends. Karl Anthony Towns helped inside with rebounds and rim presence. For Toronto Brandon Ingram finished with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists while carrying a big offensive load. Scottie Barnes and others battled, but without some regular contributors available the Raptors were stretched.
Who was out and why that mattered
Toronto was without Immanuel Quickley who missed the game with an illness and RJ Barrett who remained out as he recovered from a knee procedure. Those absences showed up. Quickley’s playmaking and Barrett’s wing scoring are important pieces for spacing and ball movement, and missing both forced Toronto to rely heavily on Ingram and the younger pieces. The club will get clarity as players return, but last night the lineup gaps made a difference.
Standings and context: Are the Raptors still near the top?
YES! Even after this loss the Raptors remained a solid team in the Eastern Conference. As of the most recent standings Toronto sat around 15 and 11 and were inside the upper tier of the East rather than out of the hunt. They were not buried by this result. One elimination from the Cup and a loss are not the season. The team still has time to regroup and push toward the top of the conference.
What needs to happen next
A few practical things leapt out from the game that the Raptors must fix to get back on track:
- get some availability back so the rotation is fuller and the bench can provide consistent spacing and playmaking
- limit second chance points by boxing out better and matching New York’s physicality on the glass
- cut down on early turnovers and sloppy possessions that let the Knicks grab momentum
All are fixable with the rest and a few adjustments. This roster showed earlier in the season it can roll through stretches, and last night felt more like a bad matchup than a structural problem.
What’s next for the Raptors
Toronto got a short rest after the Cup game and then had a few days to reset. Their schedule gives them a chance to regroup, get healthy, and return to regular season play. The next stretch of games will be a good test of whether this loss becomes a reset moment or the start of a slide. My money is on reset.
Final thoughts from a long time fan
I have watched this franchise through long rebuilds and nights where hope felt temporary. Last night stung because the Cup felt like something we could chase. But I am proud of this group. Brandon Ingram showed he can shoulder a load. The younger players competed. The team’s identity and belief have been real all season. If they get the banged up guys back and tighten the rebounding and turnovers, this was a wake up call, not a collapse.
Imagine how good they will be in the spring if they keep improving the small stuff now. I am still watching, still cheering, and still very excited.
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
