Raptors at Knicks
THE STORY: The New York Knicks salvaged their three-game West
Coast road trip with a victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday
despite Amare Stoudemire sitting out with an ankle injury. The Knicks
were facing some questions about their offense after averaging 80 points
in losses to the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. But they
exploded for 114 points in a rout of the Kings, giving them some
momentum for a quick two-game homestand. That stretch begins Monday,
when the Toronto Raptors visit Madison Square Garden. The Raptors
squandered second-half leads in losses to the Dallas Mavericks and
Orlando Magic over the weekend and have gotten progressively worse on
defense during a three-game losing streak. Andrea Bargnani has been the
bright spot, averaging 29 points in the last two games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (1-3):
Toronto carried a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter on
Sunday before falling apart. The Raptors could not guard the perimeter
as the Orlando Magic rained down 3-pointers, and had no one who could
battle Dwight Howard on the inside en route to a 102-96 loss. They had
similar problems in Dallas on Friday, when a 16-2 run by the Mavericks
at the end of the third quarter did them in. New coach Dwane Casey is
trying to get the players to buy into a more defensive system, hopefully
to cut down on those long runs.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (2-2):
If New York coach Mike D’Antoni can do anything, it is coax offense out
of whoever happens to be on the floor. On Saturday that was rookie Josh
Harrellson, who collected 14 points and 12 rebounds in place of
Stoudemire. The Kentucky product embraced D’Antoni’s quick shooting
philosophy with four 3-pointers. The entire starting five scored at
least 14 in the 114-92 triumph. The Knicks hope to have Stoudemire back
on Monday.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Knicks averaged 114.5 points in sweeping all four meetings last season.
2. Toronto point guard Jerryd Bayless sat out Sunday with a sprained ankle. He is day-to-day.
3. Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is averaging 11.8 free throw attempts.